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I 
, 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHIbPINES 
First Regular Session 1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The reduction of response time for the delivery of emergency care will, in turn, prevent 
fatalities, substantially reduce the severity and extent of injuries, reduce time lost from work, and 
save thousands of lives and millions of pesos in health care costs. 
This bill seeks to promote and enhance public safety through the use of universal 
emergency assistance number. 


,.t. 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session , 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
I 
I Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING AND ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH THE USE OF 
UNIVERSAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE NUMBER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ‘Communications and Public 
Safety Act.” 
SECTION 2 .  Purpose. - The purpose o f this Act i s to encourage the use of universal 
emergency assistance number to meet public safety and other communications needs. 
SECTION 3. Universal emergency telephone number. - Every province shall designate a 
provincial-wide emergency telephone number within its territorial jurisdiction for reporting an 
emergency to appropriate authorities and requesting assistance. In making such designation, the 
province shall provide a transition period for areas that have no access to telephone 
communications facilities. 
SECTION 4. hormulation of Policies. - Each province shall formulate policies that will: 
1 
(1) encourage m embers o f t  he public to report significant risks to the safety of 
members of the traveling public, such as incidents of driving under the influence of alcohol or 
illegal drugs, driving aggressively, or other driving behavior that poses a risk to such safety; and 
(2) will make significant efforts to minimize, such as through youth and adult 
driver education, driving behavior that poses a risk to the safety of members of the public, 


SECTION 5. Consultation. - In carrying out the provisions of the preceding section, each 
province shall consult local officials responsible for emergency services and public safety; the 
telecommunications industry, the motor vehicle manufacturing industry, emergency medical 
providers, public safety, fire service, and law enforcement officials, consumer groups, and 
hospital emergency and trauma care personnel (including emergency physicians, trauma 
surgeons, and nurses). i 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of i nstruction, administrative order, rule or regulation c ontrary t 0, o r inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Efectivity Clause. - 
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
FN: 1514 
Approved,