FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1333 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the objective of the State to promote public safety in the transportation of 
passengers, particularly school children. To achieve this objective, it is essential that 
the State shall prescribe minimum design standards of school buses for the safety of 
the student passengers. 
, 
This. bill seeks to prescribe regulations to mitigate the effects of vehicular 
accidents by prescribing safety standards for school buses. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1333 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
J' ': 
I > 
AN ACT PRESCRIBING SCHOOL BUS SAFETY STANDARDS AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the "School Bus Safety Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to 
promote safety in order to protect passengers of school buses from injury in case of 
accidents. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - For purposes of this Act the term: 
(1) "Bus" means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a traifer, designed for 
carrying more than 10 persons. 
(2) '.'.school Bus" means a bus that is used for purposes that include carrying 
students· to and from public or private school or school-related events on a regular 
basis, but does not include a transit bus or a school, chartered bus. 
(3) "School-Chartered Bus" means a bus that is operated under a short-term 
contract with the school authorities who have acquired exclusive use of the bus at a 
fixed charge in order to provide transportation for a group of pupifs .to a special school-
related event. 
(4) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Transportation and Communications. 


(5) "Seats Belts" refer to the combined lap belt and shoulder strap that fasten a 
rider to moving vehicle and prevent him from being thrown out or against the interior of 
the vehicle during sudden stops. 
SECTION. 4. Proficiency Standards for School Bus Drivers. 
(a) Requirement- Not later than one (1) year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall prescribe proficiency standards for school bus drivers who are 
required to possess a professional license to operate a school bus. 
(b) Demonstration of Proficiency- Upon the prescription of standards under 
subsection (a), each school bus driver referred to in subsection (a) shall demonstrate 
(at such interval as the Secretary shall prescribe) to the employer of the driver, the 
, 
school, the licensing agency, or other person or agency responsible for regulating 
school bus drivers the proficiency of such driver in operating a school bus in 
accordance with the proficiency standards prescribed under subsection (a) or the 
proficiency standards established by the State concerned, as the case may be. 
SECTION 5. Seat Belts in School Buses. 
(A) Requirement for Installation- Not later than one (1) year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring driver seat 
belts and passenger seat belts (including lap safety belts or other child safety devices 
meeting applicable government safety standards) for each seating position in any newly 
manufactured school bus. Owners of school buses which are not currently equipped 
with seat belts shall be given a period of six (6) months from the publication of the 
regulations by the Secretary to install the necessary seat belts in their school buses. 
(B) Promotion of Seat Belt Usage -
(1) In General-
The Secretary, 
in consultation with appropriate safety 
organizations and parent-teacher organizations, shall conduct a program to promote 
and encourage the use of seat belts in school buses. 
(2) Elements of Program- In conducting the program required under this 
subsection, the Secretary shall 
(A) Encourage the local governments to monitor the mandatory usage of seat 
belts in school buses; 
(B) Develop and disseminate educational materials on the importance of using 
seat belts to passengers and drivers of school buses; and 


(C) Recognize in an appropriate manner school that achieve a high level of seat 
belt usage by passengers and drivers of school buses. 
SECTION 6. Determination of Practicabiltty and Feasibility of Certain Safety ahd 
Access Requirements for School Buses. 
(a) Commencement of Rulemaking Process- Immediately upon the enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary shall begin a rulemaking process to determine the feasibility and 
practicability of the following: 
(1) A requirement for a decrease in the flammability of the materials used in the 
construction of the interiors of school buses. 
(b) Final Rule- Not later than 1 year after such date, the Secretary shall 
promulgate a final rule providing for any requirement or standard referred to in 
paragraph (1) of subsection (a) that the Secretary determines to be feasible and-
practicable. 
SECTION 7. Registration. - No school bus shall be allowed to acquire, maintain 
and renew registration unless it is equipped with the necessary seat belts. 
SECTION 8. Implementing Authority. - The Secretary shall be primarily 
responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this Act. 
The Secretary may provide for a reasonable period for public notice and 
comment ccmsistent with ensuring expeditious but full implementation. of the prescribed 
safety requirement of this Act. 
SECTION. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, preSidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to 
or inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.