FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.la 22 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill will strengthen the child safety in public and private motor vehicles 
by prescribing standards and performance requirements for child vehicle restraint 
system. This bill seeks the prevention of automobile-related injuries and fatalities 
to children and signifies the commitment of the government in ensuring their 
safety and welfare. 
In view of the above, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.la 2 2 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT REQUIRING THE MANDATORY COMPLIANCE BY 
MOTORISTS OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC VEHICLES TO APPROPRIATELY 
RESTRAINT ALL CHILD OCCUPANTS OF MOTOR VEHICLES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to secure and safeguard its citizenry, particularly the passengers and 
drivers of private and public motor vehicles, from the ruinous and extremely 
injurious effects of vehicular accidents. Towards this end, the State shall pursue 
a more proactive and preventive approac111n order to secure the safety of the 
passengers and drivers at all times by making mandatory that all child 
passengers of motor vehicles be appropriately restrained in order to reduce the 
incidence of injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes on the 
streets, roads, and highways. 
Section 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(a) "Motorist" shall refer.to the driver of a motor vehicle. 
(b) "Motor vehicle" shall refer to both private and public motor vehicle. 
(c) "Private motor vehicle" shall refer to any of the following: 
(1) Any motor vehicle owned by individuals and juridical persons for 
private use; 
, 
(2) Any motor vehicle owned by the National Government or any of 
its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, including 
government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries 
for official use; and 
(3) Any diplomatic vehicle. 
(d) "Public motor vehicle" shall refer to public utility vehicle or vehicle for 
hire. 
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(e) "Child restraint' means any product designed to provide restraint to a 
child (including booster seats and other products used with a lap and shoulder 
belt assembly) that meets applicable motor vehicle safety standards prescribed 
by the Land Transportation Office. 
(f) "Child passenger" means infant and/or child ages six (6) years and 
below. 
Section 3. Mandatory Restraint of Child Passenger. - For the safety of the 
child passengers, the driver of a public or private motor vehicle is required to 
restrain child passengers while inside a running vehicle on any road or 
thoroughfare 
For private vehicles, except for jeeps, jeepneys, vans, buses and such 
other private vehicles as may be determined in the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations (IRR), the driver of a public or private motor vehicle must at all times 
restrain child passengers while inside a running vehicle. 
In the case of public motor vehicles, the driver shall be required to 
immediately inform and require the adult accompanying the child passengers 
upon boarding a vehicle to restrain the child passenger. Any passenger who 
refuses to restrain the child passenger shall not be allowed to continue his/her 
trip. 
Operational motor vehicles, both public and private, which are not 
equipped with the required child restraints, are given one (1) year from the 
issuance of the IRR by the Land Transportation Office (L TO) to retrofit 
appropriate child restraints in their vehicles. 
Section 4. Coverage. - This Act, in the-interest of public safety, shall apply 
to drivers of public and private motor vehicles and other vehicles as may be 
determined by the IRR thereon. 
Section 5. Period of Implementation. - The L TO shall be the agency 
primarily responsible in the enforcement and implementation of this Act. Within 
sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the L TO shall formulate and issue 
the necessary implementing rules, regulations and guidelines and shall mobilize 
available resources to assure the effective implementation of this Act. 
Section 6. Penalties and Fines. - In the enforcement of this Act, the L TO 
shall impose fines against drivers for violation of this Act. 
The following shall be the basis in defining fine and penalty provisions of 
the IRR to be promulgated, provided that six (6) months grace period shall be 
allowed to lapse to conduct a nationwide information campaign. 
For failure to restrain a child occupant, a minimum fine of One hundred 
pesos (P100) but not to exceed One thousand pesos (P1,000) for the first 
violation; a minimum fine of Two hundred pesos (P200) but not to exceed Two 
thousand pesos (P2,000) for the second violation; and a minimum fine of Five 
hundred pesos (P500) but not to exceed Five thousand pesos (P5,OOO) and 
suspension of driver's license for a period of one (1) week for the third and 
succeeding violations; 
Section 7. Nationwide Public Information Campaign. - (a) The L TO, in 
coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of 
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Education and private agencies and organizations, shall undertake a regular 
nationwide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign for the 
attainment of the objectives of this Act. The campaign shall stress the safety and 
health value of restraining child using hands-free device while engaging in a call 
using cellular telephone while driving to support the most effective enforcement 
of this Act. 
(b) The L TO, in coordination with the local government units, shall likewise 
utilize the services of citizen groups and community organizations for the 
promotion of public safety awareness in observance of this Act. 
(c) The fines that will be collected for the enforcement of this Act shall be 
used exclusively for the implementation of the provisions of this Act, 
including the necessary promotion campaigns for the use of hands free 
devices. 
Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the ,remainder of the law or provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
Section 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, executive order, decree, 
issuance, ordinance, rule and regulation or any part thereof contrary or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is also hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
Section 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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