Republic of the Phitippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit No,_1601

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Traffic is undeniably one of the most perennial problems that we Fitipinc:
daily basis.

perier

In a recent study conducted by the Japan international Cooperation Agency (JICA), it wie
found that the Philippines is now losing PhP 3.5 bilion a day due to traffic in Metro Wi
atone.’ Thus, looking on a bigger picture would show us that the prodiem of irs
transcends beyond the issue of personal inconvenience — and touches upon the natic
economy as a whole.

The government should be lauded by introducing a lot of infrastructure projects to addres
vehicle congestion. However, it cannot be gainsaid that the pressing problem of traffic also
demands an immediate and practical remedy that will involve the particioation of the
commuters themselves,

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had recently gone on record that carpooling
may be one of those solutions that we may undertake to alleviate the worsening traffic in *he
metro.* However, the lack of regulation on carpooling hinders the efficacy ang feasinility ot
this solution.

Since the concept of carpooling is not currently defined under any iaw, the issue
legality has always been a recurring question among the public. Naysayers worry th
carpooling may blur the line between legal and illegal iand transport (“colorur

Thus, it is now high time to regulate carpooling by drawing up a law that would clearly set th
limits of its application. in Singapore, for instance, a driver may only offer carpooling services
twice a day, otherwise, he may be charged with a hefty fine or may even face a jail term.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is immediately sought

eres

* https://ennphilippines.com/transportation/2018/02/23/J1CA-P3.5-billion-traffic.html
* https://www.philstar.com/nation/2018/08/26/1845824/mmda-urges-carpool-arnid-infra-projects



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1601

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo.

AN ACT
LEGALIZING AND REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF COMMUNITY-BASED
CARPOOLING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress essembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shail be known as the “National Carpooling Act.”

SEC. 2. Objective. - This Act aims to promote, legalize and regulate the practice of
“community-based carpooling” in order to alleviate the worsening problem of vehicle
congestion in the country.

SEC. 3. Definition. - “Community-based carpooling” shall be defined as the act of traveling
together in a group using one vehicle according to the schedules and locations of the driver
and the passengers.

SEC. 4. Responsibility of the Drivers. ~ Drivers shall exercise reasonable diligence of a good
father of a family in providing carpooling services to the passengers. In case of damage or
injury to persons or property, including his passengers, the driver shall be punished in
accordance with existing criminal and civil laws.

SEC. 5. Restrictions and Prohibitions.

a) Drivers may only offer carpooling services twice a day.

b) The pick-up point, drop-off point, schedule, and payment for the carpool service shai
be agreed upon by the driver and the passenger before the start of the trp.

The payment collected by the driver must not exceed the cost and expenses incurr

for the carriage of the passenger/s.

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SEC. 6. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this law shail be
punished with imprisonment of one month and one day to six months, and/or a fine of at
least One Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 100,000.00).

‘Any person who shall be found to violate Section 4 of this Act on account of his
recklessness shall be punished with imprisonment of one year and one day to six years,
and/or a fine equivalent to double the amount of damages incurred under the circumstances


SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General Appropriations
Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the approval of
this Act, the relevant government agencies shall formulate and promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — \f any provision or section of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions and sections not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, or issuances
or any part thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

“Approved,