THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
According to the Air Bag Safety Campaign of the United States, some 8 children are 
killed and 932 injured everyday in motor vehicle-related crashes. Experts agree children are 
safest when buckled up and in the back seat. The United States National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration likewise estimates that children are up to 29 percent safer when riding in the rear 
seat regardless of whether the vehicle is equipped with a passenger side air bag. Therefore, 
placing children in the back seat provides greater protection for head on collisions, the most 
serious type of crash, by getting children farther away from the point of impact. 
At present, the Philippines does not have any law regarding motor vehicle safety for 
children. Admittedly, motor vehicle szdety laws of the United States will not find easy or 
intuitive application in the Philippines because of the differences in the means and culture of 
transportation; however, it is believed that child passenger safety can at least be improved to by 
requiring young children below the age of seven (7) to sit in the rear seat of motor vehicles. 
This bill proposes that children be allowed to ride in the front seat of a motor vehicles 
only if: 1) there are no rear seats; 2) a child safety seat or booster seat cannot be properly 
installed in the rear seat; 3) all rear seats are already occupied by other occupants; or 4) medical 
reasons necessitate the child should not ride in rear seat. Thus, while atlempting to secure a 
certain level of child passenger safety, this bill nevertheless allows flexibility for large families 
and/or parents who may be transporting other children. 
MIRIAM D E F E ~ O R  
SANTIAGO 
P+ 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SEVEN 
FROM RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE 
EXCEPT UNDER LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES 
Be it enucted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines LIZ Congress 
ussem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “Children in the Backseat Act of 
2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declurution of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote the general 
welfare of tlie people. Pursuant to this policy, this Act seeks to increase tlie children’s safety by 
requiring them to ride in the backseat of motor vehicles, except under limited circumstances. 
SECTION 3. Prohibition against Children Riding in the Front Seat of a Motor Vehicle. 
No person shall operate a motor vehicle with any passengers under the age of seven (7) seated in 
the front seat of such vehicle: Provided, however, that such prohibition shall not apply if 
(A) Such motor vehicle is not equipped with rear seats; or 
(B) The rear seat cannot accommodate the proper installation of the child safety 
seat or booster seat in which such passenger is being transported, as 
determined by the commissioner, or vehicle manufacturer, or child safety seat 
or booster seat manufacturer; 
(C) All other seat positions are occupied by other occupants; or 
(D) Such passenger under age seven is exempt pursuant to the next succeeding 
section. 


SECTION 4. Exception. - The preceding section shall not apply Lo a passenger or 
operator with a physically disabling condition whose physical disability would prevent 
appropriate restraint in such safety seat or safety belt, or to a passenger under the age of seven 
(7) whose physical condition necessitates that such passenger be seated in the front seat for 
medical or safety reasons: Provided, however, that such condition is duly certified by a physician 
who shall state the nature of the disability or condition, as well as the reason such restraint is 
or rear seat placement is inappropriate. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating Section 4 shall be 
punished by a penalty of imprisonment of awesto menor, or a fine of not more than Ten 
Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO), or both, at the discretion of the court, taking into consideration all 
attending circumstances. 
The penalty next higher shall be imposed if the child helow seven (7) years of age suffers 
physical injuries or dies as a result of any vehicular collision and the said child, without falling 
under the exceptions to Section 4 of this Act, was seated in the front seat or seats of the motor 
vehicle. 
IF the owner or operator of the motor vehicle is a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, 
association or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity's 
responsible officers, including, hut not limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive 
officer, general manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefore. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 


SECTION 8, E’eclivity 
Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
/rgs