Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4312

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon. Sol Aragones

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The number of registered vehicles in the Philippines has steadily increased over the
past few years. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that the number of
registered vehicles in the country jumped from 5,530,052 in 2007 to 7,138,942 in 2012; a

29% increase over the span of five years.

While the increasing number of motor vehicles in the country is viewed as a positive
development, it is also accompanied by downsides; more cars on the road mean the higher
probability of vehicular accidents. This is a reality we sec every day in the media, with lives
shattered and lost on a regular basis as trucks, public utility vehicles, and private vehicles
figure in accidents in our country's roads. According to the Global Status Report on Road
Safety prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 1,513 reported road
traffic deaths in the Philippines; the WHO, however, opines that this number may be greater,

and estimates that as many as 10,379 Filipinos lost their lives in our country's roads in 2015.

‘This constant threat posed to life and limb should not go unignored. Authorities must
do what can be done to prevent this, and legislators such as ourselves must act to save as

many lives as we can.

One concrete measure that could save lives is to require all vehicles ~ private,
government, and public utility vehicles (PUVs) ~ to have first aid kits on hand so our citizens
can immediately respond to medical emergencies on the road. The Vehicle Emergency

Preparedness Act of 2016 would make it compulsory for all car owners, government


agencies, and franchise openers of PUVs to procure first aid kits for their vehicles, and would

make this a prerequisi

¢ for vehicle registration and franchise applications; it would likewise

fine violators 10,000 pesos for non-compliance.

First aid kits do not cost much, with some kits selling for less than a thousand pesos
each, This is a small price to pay to ensure that our drivers and pedestrians on the road can
receive immediate medical care while waiting to be treated by medical personnel —

immediate medical care that could save their lives.

In light of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. SOL AZAGONE
Representative, Third District of La



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

} 4312

House Bill No.

Introduced by Hon, Sol Aragones

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE COMPULSORY INSTALLATION OF EMERGENCY
FIRST AID KI IN PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT VEHICLES AND
AUTOMOBILES OPERATED FOR PUBLIC UTILITY

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

TION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Vehicle Emergency
Preparedness Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. Declaration of policy. - It is the policy of the State to ensure that the
right (o health, safety and security is protected and promoted in all aspects of citizens’ daily

lives.

‘TION 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms.

shall be used under the definition provided hereof, to wit:

First Aid Kit ~ a set of materials and tools used for giving emergency treatment to a

sick or injured person. It shall include the following or similar products:

a) 2 absorbent compress dressings:
b) 25 adhesive bandages;

©) L adhesive cloth tape:

4) 5 antibiotic ointment packets:
©) 5S antiseptic wipe packets:

£) 2 packets of aspirin;


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g) | instant cold compre

h) 2 pair of non-latex gloves;
i) 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets;
i) Scissor

inch wide bandage;

1) L roller 4-inch wide bandage;
m) 5 sterile 3x3-inch gauze pads:
n) S sterile 4x4-inch gauze pads:

0) Oral non-mercury, non-glass thermometer;

p) 2 triangular bandages;
q) Tweezers;
1) First aid instruction booklet; and
8) Other medical products or equipment, at the option or convenience of the
owner,
Government Vehicles - passenger cars or automobiles for official use by

government officials and employees.

Private Vehicles - passenger cars or automobiles for private or personal use and
those owned and used by private companies for their employees, the use of which is not
intended to earn income out of fees or fares from carrying passengers.

Public Utility Vehicles - buses, trucks, jeepneys, taxicabs, multi-cabs and other four

wheeled units used for public transport operated by transportation network companies
(TNCs) and transportation network vehicles (TNVs) utilized either because of ubiquity,

flexibility, reasonable cost and traditional and habitual acceptability

SECTION 4. Installation and Placement of Emergency First Aid Kits. ~ The
installation of emergency first aid kit shall be required in all private vehicles, government-
owned cars and public utility vehicles. Private owners, government agencies and operators of
taxi franchises, bus lines, jeepneys and other vehicles for public utility shall be required to
procure and install emergency first aid kits for all their vehicles and units under their
operation, These shall be properly placed in within arm’s reach where it does not impair the

driver's view and outside the range of airbag deployment.


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SECTION 5. Requirement for Vehicle Registration. ~ Emergency first aid kits shall be
required from all brand new vehicles prior to sale and registration, and regardless of their

intended utility.

After the expiration of a one (1) year grace period required by this Act for the
installation of emergency first aid kits in all vehicles, no bus, taxi, jeepney or any other public
utility vehicle for that matter shall be allowed registration and renewal of registration by the

Land Transportation Office without emergency first aid kits installed therein.

SECTION 6. Requirement for Franchise Application. ~ Emergency first aid kits shall
be required for all vehicles intended for public utility. No franchise shall be granted to

vehicles intended for public utility without the installation of the above requirement.

SECTION 7. Monitoring. — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA) shall be tasked to conduct regular ocular inspections after the lapse of
one year from the promulgation of this Act to ensure that all registered owners and operators

have complied with the requirements of this Act.

SECTION 8. Penal Provisions. — Violation of any of the provisions of this Act shall
be meted a fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) for every unit against the vehicle owner

or proprietor of the business.

Any act or omission by government employees and law enforcement officers causing
the violation of duties ascribed under this Act shall be punishable with imprisonment not
exceeding six (6) months, or a fine not exceeding twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), or
both, without prejudice to other civil or criminal liabilitics that may arise therefrom.

SECTION 9. Implementing Agency. — The Department of Transportation, (DOT), the
Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board (LTFRB), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the
respective local government units (LGUs) shall ensure the implementation and enforcement

of this Act.


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SECTION 10. Jmplementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, in consultation with appropriate government
agencies and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to

implement this Act.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, letters of
instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent with this,

Act, are hereby repealed or amended,

JON 12. Separability Clause. — In the event that any provision of this Act or any
portion thereof is declared unconstitutional, the other remaining provisions not affected

thereby shall remain valid and enforceable.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect after its publication in at

least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,