TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
" ■s
of T.j:
S. No.
)
SENATE
943
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
REGULATING THE COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC UTILITY BUS DRIVERS AND 
CONDUCTORS BY REQUIRING BUS OPERATORS TO PAY THEM FIXED 
MONTHLY SALARIES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS 
THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It has been almost normal to hear media reports of traffic jams and vehicular 
accidents involving buses. We often hear of provincial buses plunging into cliffs or 
crashing into poles. Many accidents involve competing buses, each trying to outdo 
each other in getting more passengers. Sometimes, the accidents are caused by tired 
and sleepy drivers who are forced to work for more than sixteen (16) hours a day.
Poor working conditions and unfair boundary or commission-based systems are 
at the root of these accidents. Drivers and conductors are pushed to compete with 
other buses to get more passengers. They are often forced to work graveyard shifts, 
with some driving for almost twenty (20) hours a day.
Majority of Metro Manila bus lines gives drivers a commission of nine percent 
(9%) from the gross collection while conductors receive seven percent (7%). Thus 
bus owners or operators are the ones who set the commission rate for drivers and 
conductors. Not meeting the quota for the day would deprive them of the coveted 
bonus or worse, half of the cost of gasoline will be deducted from their collections and


their commission would be computed based on the remaining amount. At present, 
most bus drivers and conductors work three to five days a week, eight hours or more 
a day while relievers work less than three days a week. They work less than five days 
a week but almost without rest to the detriment of the passengers.
The Department of Labor and Employment issued Department Order No. 118- 
12 on January 13, 2012 to provide for the Rules and Regulations Governing the 
Employment and Working Conditions of Drivers and Conductors in the Public Utility 
Bus Transport Industry.1 Subsequently, the National Wages and Productivity 
Commission issued NWPC Guidelines No. 01, Series of 2019 regarding "Revised 
Operational Guidelines on the Adoption of Part Fixed, Part Performance-Based 
Compensation Scheme in the Public Bus Transport Industry" which covers all public 
utility bus owners and/or operators employing drivers and conductors.
This bill seeks to legislate the regulation of the compensation of public utility 
bus (PUB) drivers by requiring the operators of PUBs to grant fixed salaries as well as 
fixed working hours. A simple computation will show that drivers currently earning 
P900 a day and working more than twelve (12) hours a day for three days a week will 
receive almost the same income based on the minimum wage for working eight (8) 
hours a day for six (6) days a week. The difference is that under this proposed 
measure, drivers will get enough rest while operators will spend almost the same 
amount for salaries.
With the assurance of fixed salaries on a regular basis, PUB drivers and 
conductors will no longer be pressured to compete or be forced to work beyond 
humane working hours. Serious accidents and traffic problems involving those buses 
will therefore be significantly lessened.
1 DOLE Department Order No. 118-12 Rules and Regulations on the Employment and Working Conditions of
Bus Drivers and Conductors


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
943
v 
o( t.:' S’ ■ .
25 AUG-5 P4;05
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
REGULATING THE COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC UTILITY BUS DRIVERS AND 
CONDUCTORS BY REQUIRING BUS OPERATORS TO PAY THEM FIXED 
MONTHLY SALARIES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS 
THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Bus Drivers and
2 
Conductors Compensation Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared policy of the State to grant
4 
just and humane working conditions for bus drivers and conductors as well as secure
5 
and safeguard and safeguard citizens from risks of vehicular accidents and traffic
6 
problems caused by competing and overworked bus drivers. Towards this end, the
7 
State shall regulate the compensation of public utility bus (PUB) drivers by requiring
8 
bus owners or operators to pay them fixed monthly salaries.
9 
Sec. 3. Coverage. - All persons who have been issued a Certificate of Public
10 
Convenience (CPC) to operate a public utility bus service shall pay their PUB drivers
11 
and conductors as compensation for work performed a fixed monthly salary which
12 
shall not be less than the minimum wage fixed by law, plus benefits and incentives.
13 
Sec. 4. Driver and Conductor Qualifications and Standards. - All operators of
14 
public utility bus service shall comply with the driver and conductor qualifications and
15 
standards which shall be established by the Land Transportation Franchising and


1 
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in order to ensure the employment of qualified and
2 
experienced drivers and conductors.
3 
Sec. 5. Driving Hours. — All operators of public utility bus service shall
4 
require their drivers to observe the following work scheme:
5 
a. The driving hours shall not exceed eight (8) hours inclusive of the rest
6 
period;
7 
b. A two-shift system shall be employed; and
8 
c. There should be at least one (1) hour rest per working day.
9 
Sec. 6. Daiiy Time Record or Trip Report Monitoring System. - All PUB
10 
operators shall require their drivers to submit daily time records or trip reports in order
11 
to monitor the number of trips made and the number of driving hours worked. A copy
12 
of the summary of daily time record or trip report shall be submitted to the LTFRB as
13 
a requirement for the annual renewal of registration of the PUB.
14 
Sec. 7. Payment of Monthiy Saiary. - The monthly salary of PUB drivers and
15 
conductors shall not be less than the minimum wage fixed by law. Salaries shall be
16 
paid in cash at least once every two (2) weeks and shall be paid directly to the PUB
17 
drivers and conductors. Benefits and incentives as stipulated in the Labor Code and
18 
related laws, and/or in collective bargaining agreements, shall also be accorded to
19 
drivers and conductors.
20 
Sec. 8. Status of Empioyment — Years of employment shall be accounted for
21 
upon the change in schemes and contracts.
22 
Sec. 9. Penaities. - For any violation of this Act, the operator of any public
23 
utility bus service shall be fined not less than One hundred thousand 
pesos
24 
(P100,000.00) but not more than Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) and
25 
suspension of the franchise to operate: Provided, That the suspension of the franchise
26 
to operate shall only be until such time that the operators has complied and paid the
27 
drivers and conductors of their back wages and appropriate benefits.
28 
Sec. 10. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - The Chairman of the Land
29 
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shall, in coordination with
30 
the Secretary of Labor and Employment, issue the necessary rules and regulations for
31 
the effective implementation of this Act.


1 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
2 
rules and regulations, and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
3 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
6 
national circulation.
Approved,