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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._________ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Congressman JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
 This bill seeks to institute standards governing the use of emergency 
vehicles to educate motorists and the public on safe road environment in times of 
emergencies, calamities and disasters.  
 During emergencies it is important for emergency vehicles and first 
responders to immediately reach the scene of a potential life and death situation.  
However, oftentimes, due to road limitations and severe traffic conditions 
coupled with the public’s unfamiliarity with rules governing emergency vehicles, 
untoward consequences may happen.  This proposed measure seeks to rectify this 
situation by specifying the duties and obligations of motorists in the presence of 
emergency vehicles responding to an emergency. 
Likewise, the bill seeks to implement the use of uniform red and blue 
warning lights by the law enforcement, fire truck, ambulance and other 
emergency vehicle to alert the motorists of the presence of an emergency vehicle 
and yield to it for its safe and speedy passage. This color coding scheme provides 
the best visibility during low and normal light conditions and even during adverse 
weather conditions. The standardization of the use of emergency  
August 25, 2022
3:03 pm
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lights will build familiarity and awareness among motorists on the existence of 
an urgent and emergency situation, and learn to give way to emergency vehicles 
to ensure the prevention of any potential danger to life and property. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
CONG. JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS 


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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO._________ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Congressman JORGE “PATROL” BUSTOS  
________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
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INSTITUTING STANDARDS FOR THE USE OF EMERGENCY 
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VEHICLES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION 
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THEREOF 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1.  Short Title. − This Act shall be known as the “Emergency 
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Vehicles Act.” 
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SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to maintain 
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peace and order, protect life, liberty, and property, and to promote the general 
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welfare.  Toward this end, the State shall ensure a safe environment for all 
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motorists, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and first responders during 
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emergencies, calamities and disasters. 
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SEC. 3.  Emergency Color Codes. – Emergency vehicles must observe the 
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following color codes in their flashing lights or blinkers: 
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(a)
Colors red and blue:
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(1) 
For marked motor vehicles of the Philippine National Police, 
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National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, 
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National Bureau of Investigation and similar law enforcement agencies; 
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(2) 
For ambulances or motor vehicles operated by an emergency 
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medical service organization; 
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(3) 
For fire trucks or motor vehicles used by the fire department 
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or any of its officer responding to a fire or emergency; and  
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(4) 
For marked motor vehicles of the Armed Forces of the 
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Philippines or any of its major services. 
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(b) 
Color amber:   
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(1) 
For tow trucks, utility vehicles, heavy equipment, and 
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machinery used during calamities or natural disasters; and  
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(2) 
For armored vehicles of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. 
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For purposes of this Act, an emergency vehicle is any vehicle with activated 
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flashing lights and sirens.  
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SEC. 4.  Accessories of Emergency Vehicles. – All emergency vehicles 
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must have the following accessories:                                                      
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(a) 
Sirens, bells, horns, whistles, or similar gadgets that make prolonged 
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loud or startling sounds;  
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(b) 
Emergency red light blinkers, dome lights, flashing lights, and 
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installed in front, rear, and inside of the vehicle; and 
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(c) 
Other similar signaling or flashing devices including headlights, 
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interior lights, and tail lights or break lights.  
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SEC. 5.  Passing Lane. – All emergency vehicles are given priority along 
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passing lane in all roads in the country.  The following are designated as passing 
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lanes: 
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(a) 
In two-way roads with center island - the lane nearest to the center 
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island; 
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(b) 
In two-way roads with no center island - the lane nearest to the center 
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line; and  
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(c) 
In one-way roads - the left most lane. 
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Upon seeing the blinkers, headlights, or hazard lights of the emergency 
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vehicles, or upon hearing their emergency sirens, horns, or bells, all motorists 
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shall immediately give way to the emergency vehicles by veering to the right and 
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away from the passing lanes, come to a full stop, and resume driving after the 
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emergency vehicles have passed. 
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SEC. 6.  Duties of Driver of Emergency Vehicle. – A driver of an 
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emergency vehicle must be a holder of a professional driver’s license issued by 
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the Land Transportation Office.  The emergency vehicle driver must at all times 
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exercise due care and diligence while driving the vehicle to ensure the safety of 
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everyone using the road.  
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SEC. 7.  Mandatory Preventive Maintenance. – To ensure and maintain 
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roadworthiness, all emergency vehicles must undergo periodic preventive 
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maintenance in accordance with the prescribed schedule and instruction 
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contained in the vehicle manufacturer’s manual.  
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SEC. 8.  Mandatory Registration of Emergency Vehicles. – All emergency 
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vehicles shall be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).  The LTO 
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shall keep a separate registry of all registered emergency vehicles in the country.      
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SEC. 9.  Installation of Dashboard Camera or Similar Device. – All 
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emergency vehicles must be installed with a dashboard camera or similar device 
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to record the driving conditions on the road.  
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SEC. 10.  Penalties. – The following penalties shall be imposed upon any 
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person found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act: 
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(a) 
Any person who knowingly or willfully hinders, impedes, obstructs, 
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blocks, or interferes with any emergency vehicle responding to an emergency 
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shall suffer the penalty of a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) 
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but not more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00); 
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(b) 
Any person who knowingly and willfully installs the accessories of 
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emergency vehicles enumerated in Section 4 of this Act to a vehicle not classified 
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and registered as such, shall be imposed the following penalties: 
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(1) 
First offense. – Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of the 
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device or gadget mounted or installed on the person’s motor vehicle and a 
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fine of not less Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty 
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thousand pesos (P20,000.00);  
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(2) 
Second offense. – Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of 
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the device or gadget mounted or installed on the person’s motor vehicle and 
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a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) but not more 
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than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00);  
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(3) 
Third offense. – Immediate confiscation and forfeiture of the 
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device or gadget, imprisonment of not less than one (1) month and a fine of 
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not less than Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more than Forty 
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thousand pesos (P40,000.00). 
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The owner of the vehicle who knowingly and willfully allows and agrees to 
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the installation of the accessories shall suffer the same penalties imposed. 
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(c)  
Any motorist who knowingly and willfully violates the provision on 
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passing lane under Section 5 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not less 
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than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Twenty thousand pesos 
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(P20,000.00). 
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SEC. 11.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within three (3) months 
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after the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, in 
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consultation with the Executive Director of the Land Transportation Office, issue 
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the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
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SEC. 12.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
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regulations, other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of 
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 13.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved,
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