EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
o( Cl)f &>i'ctftarp
SENATE 
S. B. NO.
T9 
AUG “ 5 P 5 T 5
RECElVLJOi:.
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROTECTING UNATTENDED CHILDREN 
IN MOTOR VEHICLES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In the past years, the number of deaths arising from suffocation in cars 
has been increasing. In the United States, around 682 children died from 
1998 to 2019, after their parents left them unattended inside a motor vehicle.1 
In the Philippines, 10 children have reportedly died from suffocation inside 
motor vehicles in 2017. In the first quarter of 2019, three young girls were 
found dead after accidentally locking themselves in a car where they 
suffocated.2
Thus, there is a need to educate our citizens regarding the safety and 
health risks of leaving children inside motor vehicles, especially in periods of 
extreme weather conditions. According to the Spanish Association of 
Pediatrics3 * 5 (Asociacion Espanola de Pediatria), children aged zero to five 
years old are most likely to incur a rise in body temperature three to five times 
faster than that of adults due to a lower water reserve and a developing 
respiratory system. Moreover, a study found that a motor vehicle left for an 
hour in the sun may heat up to 116 degrees, a temperature that may cause 
organ failure, brain damage and death to toddlers.
' 2016. July 25. Two more children died over the weekend in hot cars That's 682 since 1998 It isn't getting better. 
Andrews. Travis M. The Washington 
Post 
Retrieved from: 
https //www washingtonpost com/news/morning; 
mix/wp/2016/07/25/two-children-died-over-the-weekend-in-hot-cars-thats-682-since-1998-it-isnt-qettinq-better/ 
(date 
last accessed: July 23. 2019)
2 2019. May 17 Three child cousins are found dead after accidentally locking themselves in a car in 35C heat for four
hours in the Philippines. Pleasance, Chris. Daily Mail Online Retrieved from: https://www dailymail co uk/news/article-
7040565/Three-child-cousins-die-getting-locked-car-35C-heat-Philippines html (date last accessed: July 23. 2019).
5 2016. May Children Inside Cars and Heat Stroke in Children Associacion Espanola de Pediatria. Retrieved from: 
https://www aeped es/sites/default/files/dossier_golpe_de_calor_en.pdf (date last accessed: July 23, 2019).


This bill seeks to prevent the occurrence of death of, or injury to, 
unsupervised children under nine years old inside motor vehicles, \when there 
are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s health and safety, or 
\A/hen the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the ignition, 
or both. Any person who violates the provision of this Act will be penalized 
with a fine ranging from Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000) to Fifty Thousand 
Pesos (Php50,000) depending on the frequency of violation committed by the 
offender. This bill also requires all violators of the Act to undergo driver 
education seminars with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which shall 
include education on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in 
motor vehicles.
The immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
s e n a to r J0EL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
Al^ h  
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of tijf » rfr-tjiri»
SENATE
859
S. B. NO.
*19 
AUG-5 P5-.15
RECEiWDBV;
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT PROTECTING UNATTENDED CHILDREN 
IN MOTOR VEHICLES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Unattended Child in 
Motor Vehicles Act.”
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby the policy of the State to defend 
the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and 
special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and 
other conditions prejudicial to their development. To this end, the State shall 
adopt a more proactive and preventive approach to secure the safety of 
passengers, especially children, by regulating the operation of vehicle and 
penalizing persons who leave children unattended inside a motor vehicle. The 
State shall also inculcate the standards of safe use of motor vehicles and the 
benefits that may be derived from it through institutional programs and 
appropriate public information strategies.
SEC. 3. Unattended Child in Motor Vehicles. -  It shall be unlawful for a 
person to intentionally, recklessly, knowingly or negligently cause or permit to 
leave a child under nine (9) years of age inside a motor vehicle without being 
subject to the supervision of a person who is fifteen (15) years old or above, 
under any of the following circumstances:
a) 
When there are conditions that present a significant risk to the child’s 
health or safety; or
b) 
When the vehicle’s engine is running or the vehicle’s keys are in the 
ignition, or both.


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For the purposes of this Act, the term “motor vehicle” refers to any land 
transportation vehicle propelled by any po\A/er other than muscular power, 
excluding tricycle, motorcycle and jeepney.
SEC. 4. Penalty. -  Any person who violates the provisions of this Act shall be 
liable for an administrative fine in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos 
(Php10,000.00) for the first offense; Twenty Thousand Pesos (Php20,000.00) 
for the second offense; and Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php50,000.00) for the third 
and succeeding offenses.
If, as a result of such violation, less serious or serious injuries result, the 
offender shall additionally be punished with a penalty of imprisonment of one 
(1) year. If death occurs as a result thereof, a penalty of imprisonment ranging 
from two (2) years to six (6) years shall be additionally imposed on the 
offender.
Nothing herein shall preclude the filing of charges for violation of Act No. 
3815, otherwise known as "The Revised Penal Code of the Philippines,” as 
amended, and other special laws.
All persons in violation of this Act shall also be required to undergo driver 
education seminars with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which shall 
include education on the dangers of leaving young children unattended in 
motor vehicles.
SEC. 5. Lead Agency. -  The Land Transport Office (LTO) shall take the lead 
in implementing the provisions of this Act. The LTO shall have the authority to 
deputize members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Metropolitan 
Manila Development Authority (MMDA), other metropolitan councils and the 
responsible officer of local government units (LGUs) to enforce the provisions 
of this Act.
The LTO shall also be empowered to adjust the amount of fines herein 
imposed: Provided, That:
a) 
The adjustment shall be made only once every three (3) years, and after 
public consultation;
b) 
The amount of adjustment shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the 
amount sought to be adjusted;
c) 
A thorough study shall have been conducted indicating that the existing 
amounts are no longer an effective deterrent; and
d) 
Current relevant economic indices, such as the Consumer Price Index 
(CPI), have been considered in the determination of the adjusted 
amount.
SEC 6. Public Information Campaign. -  The LTO, in coordination with the 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Department of Education (DepEd),


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Department of Health (DOH), and other relevant stakeholders, shall regularly 
undertake a nationwide information and education campaign regarding the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The LTO, in coordination 
with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Interior and 
Local Government (DILG) and other relevant government agencies, in 
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall issue the implementing rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) 
days after the effectivity of this Act.
SEC 8. Separability Clause. -  If, for any reason, any section or provision of 
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which 
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
SEC 9. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, or rules and regulations, 
which are inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act, are hereby 
amended or repealed.
SEC 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of general 
circulation.
Approved,