FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 852 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Economic recovery and accelerated development require support by a 
national network of roads and an orderly and well-managed traffic and 
engineering system. 
We need a national road system, which connects and promotes key 
growth areas, urban and rural. 
There should be an infrastructure, which 
facilitates the efficient flow of .raw materials to industry, gives unhampered 
access of goods and products to markets and consumers, and provides overall 
support to agrarian and urban land reforms. 
This proposal for a national program on transport and traffic engineering 
and management seeks to rationalize the design, construction and maintenance 
of roads, bridges, waterways, and all forms of transport of men and economic 
goods. 
It also provides for a Center, which will be pivotal in the implementation of 
the nation's program. 
For the accelerated development of our country, approval of this measure 
is urgent. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
852 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEERING CENTER, DEFINING 
ITS FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.' 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and cited as the "Charter of the 
National Traffic Engineering Center". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared to the policy of the 
State that the protection of life and property and the promotion of the economic 
and well being of the people shall be pursued by providing them the necessary 
facilities for safe and convenient travel from their residences to their places of 
work and for the efficient delivery of their products from farms and factories to the 
markets. 
SEC. 3. 
Creation of the National Traffic and Engineering Center. 
The Project Management Office for Traffic Engineering and Management of the 
Department of Public Works and Highways shall approve the pOlicies, programs, 
projects, rules and regulations, submitted by the Executive Director of the Center 
to carry out the purpose of this Act. 
SEC. 4. 
Definition of. Terms. 
For purposes of this Act, unless the 
context indicates otherwise, the terms used herein shall mean as follows: 
a) Traffic Engineering Facilities and Equipment includes traffic control 
systems, geometric improvement of intersections, sidewalks and 
median islands, road signs and pavement markings, pedestrian 
overpasses, waiting sheds and other traffic safety. 
b) Traffic Control System includes traffic signal, local Signal controllers, 
vehicle detectors, control center and related facilities and equipment 
such as close circuit television cameras and signal lanterns. 
c) Traffic Control Signal includes any device using a word or words, 
symbol or symbols, a color light or lights or any combination thereof 
operated mechanically, electrically or manually. 


d) Local Signal Controllers mean any equipment controlling the signal 
switching time for signal lanterns from green to orange to red color 
based and the command sent by the computer at the control center. 
e) Vehicle Detectors includes such equipment installed near signalized 
intersection which measures the number and speed of vehicles and 
the data to the computer at the control center. 
f) Control Center is the' place which houses the computer room, 
computer room for traffic control signals and radio communication 
equipment. 
g) Geometric improvements of Intersections, Sidewalks and Median 
Islands means the modification of the design of intersections, 
sidewalks and median islands to allow for safer, faster and efficient 
traffic flow. 
h) Intersection means place where two (2) or more roads intersect, join, 
meet or merge, and shall include the area where vehicles travelling on 
different directions may collide. 
i) Median Islands are also called Center Islands include any physical 
structure other than lines marked at the center of a roadway that 
separates opposite traffic flow. 
j) Sidewalks mean that portion of a roadway assigned for use by 
pedestrians. 
k) Curbs and Gutters mean any physical structure that segregates the 
road from the sidewalk and its accompanying structure where water 
flows toward a canal. 
. 
I) Road Sign includes regulatory road signs, special instruction signs, 
warning signs, guide signs or informative signs for road works and 
special purposes. 
m) Pavement Markings include the longitudinal lines, transverse lines, 
object markings, reflector markings and other lines and markings on 
the roadway. 
n) Pedestrian Barrier means any physical structure that will control 
pedestrian movement. 
0) Pedestrian Lanes are areas where pedestrians may cross roadways 
indicated by bars painted parallel to the road center line or a pair of 
solid white lines across a road surface. 
p) Pedestrian Overpass includes any physical structure used by 
pedestrians to cross over roadways without disrupting traffic flow at 
anytime. 
q) Waiting Sheds includes any physical infrastructure by the roadway, 
which provides pedestrian while waiting for transport. 
r) Traffic Island means any physical structure other than the lines marked 
on a roadway made at or near intersections. 


s) Signal Lanterns means traffic signal light 
SEC. 5. Relationship with the Local Government Units. The Center 
shall provide technical assistance to local governments units on matters 
pertaining to traffic engineering, including but not limited to, providing traffic 
control devices and related facilities and equipment available at the Center and 
assistance in the preparation of related documents/supporting papers and 
studies, preparation and/or implementation of traffic management plans, conduct 
of traffic studies, and coordinative/monitoring support on traffic engineering and 
management. The Center shall likewise provide the necessary technical training 
to local government personnel in the operation and maintenance of traffic control 
system and related facilities and equipment with the end in view of transferring 
the management of the technologies and equipment to local government units. 
SEC. 6. Purposes and Objectives. The Center shall have the following 
purposes: 
a) To integrate and coordinate the planning, development, construction 
operation and maintenance of traffic engineering and management 
needs and requirements nationwide. 
b) To promote the easy flow of road traffic thereby increasing efficient 
safety in the transport of men and goods and the development of small 
and medium-scale industries nationwide. 
SEC. 7. 
Duties and Responsibilities. 
The Center shall have the 
following duties and responsibilities: 
1. Assist in the development and implementation of policies for urban and 
regional transport; 
2. Provide technical the planning, services for the planning, design, 
installation, and construction, operation and maintenance of traffic 
engineering and management facilities and equipment nationwide; 
3. Develop and implement a national code of standards, speCifications, 
and operational, guidelines for the design, instaliation, operation and 
maintenance of traffic control systems; 
4. Assist other agencies including the local government units, in finding 
solutions to local traffic problems; 
5. Review and approve ali design plans for traffic engineering and 
management proposed 
by 
any government agency or local 
government units to ensure uniformity standardization; 
6. Coordinate with other agencies and authorities created for special 
metropolitan political subdivisions tasked with transport and traffic 
engineering management in the development of comprehensive plans 
and strategies for urban traffic and transport; 
7. Formulate plans and programs to train and educate the motorists and 
the public on the important use of the various traffic control facilities 
and other aspects of road safety and courtesy; 


8. Conduct researches, studies and seminars traffic engineering and 
management with emphasis on accident prevention and efficient traffic 
control; and 
9. Receive donations from local and foreign institutions or agencies, for 
the purpose of carrying out its objectives. 
SEC. 8. 
Executive Director. 
The Center shall be headed' by an 
Executive 
Director 
who 
shall 
be 
appointed 
by 
the 
President' upon 
recommendation of the Secretary of Public Works and Highways. The Executive 
Director shall have a rank equivalent to an Executive Director IV position. The 
Executive Director shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy Executive Directors; one 
(1) Deputy Executive Director for project planning, design and implementation 
and one (1) for administration, operations and maintenance of traffic control 
system. 
The Deputy Executive Directors shall have the rank equivalent to 
Deputy Executive Director IV to be appointed by the Secretary of Public Works 
and Highways. 
SEC. 9. General Powers and Duties of the Executive Director and the 
Deputy Executive Directors; 
A. The general powers and duties of the Executive Director shall be as 
follows: 
1) To implement the policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, 
rules and regulations promulgated, prescribed, issued or adopted by 
the center for urban regional transport;: 
2) To manage the day-to-day affairs of the Center, and to ensure the 
operational efficiency of the traffic engineering and management 
facilities and equipment nationwide: 
3) Head the technical, consultative and management staff of the Center; 
4) To undertake the cotlduct of traffic survey, planning and design of 
traffic engineering and management measures and services, the 
conduct of transportation and traffic related research and studies and 
the preparation and updating of the Code of Traffic Management and 
Operations; 
5) To determine the organization of the Center and create such functional 
units therein as deemed necessary in the proper and efficient 
implementation of the functions and purposes of the Center, including 
recommending the appointment of officials and employees, it being 
understood that the security of tenure of these workers shall be 
respected consisting of existing laws; and 
6) Perform other related functions that may be assigned by the Secretary 
of Public Works and Highways or as may be necessary and the 
convenient for attainment of the objectives of the Center; 
B. The Deputy Executive Directors of the Center shall have the following 
general powers, functions and duties: 
1) To assist the Executive Director in implementing, enforcing, and 
Applying the policies, programs, projects, guidelines, procedures, 


rules and regulations promulgated, prescribed, issued, or adopted 
by the Center; 
2) To assist the Executive Director in the performance of his other 
functions and duties; and 
3) To perform such other duties as the Executive Director may assign 
from time to time. 
SEC. 10. 
Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be taken from the existing project funds and other 
appropriations of abolished Project Management Office for Traffic Engineering 
and Management as authorized, in the current General Appropriations Act. 
Thereafter, funds for the Center shall be provided in the annual Appropriations 
Act. 
SEC. 11. Transitory Provisions. The Project Management Office for the 
Traffic Engineering and Management of the Department of Public Works and 
Highways shall, upon approval of this Act, be abolished and its existing functions 
and such appropriations, funds, records, equipment, facilities, other assets and 
personnel shall be transferred to the Center. 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. If any portion or provision of this Act or 
the application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the applications of such provisions to 
other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration. 
SEC. 13. 
Repealing Clause. 
All acts, charters, executive orders, 
administrative orders, rules, regulations, or parts thereof, in conflict with this Act 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 14. 
Effectivity. 
This Act shall take effect immediately upon 
approval. 
Approved,