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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1794 
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OCT -3 P5 :29 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, in its declaration of State Policies, provides: 
Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, 
liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for 
the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy. 
Pursuant to this policy, Executive Order No. l25-A was promulgated in 1987 
reorganizing the then Ministry (now Department) of Transportation and Communications' 
(DOTC). Under Section 5(q) as amended, the DOTC was charged with the function of 
establishing and prescribing rules and procedures for the accreditation of driving schools. 
Driving schools and driving instructors must be accredited by LTO. In 1980, the then Ministry of 
Transportation and Communications issued an order covering the rules and regulations 
governing the supervision and control of driving schools. Standard requirements are set forth for 
driving sites, school buildings, classrooms, library facilities, motor vehicles, instrnctors, and 
courses of instruction. At present, there are about 170 LTO-accredited driving schools operating 
all over the country. 
The tegulation of driving schools has greatly improved drivers' skills and education. 
However, there is a need to expand this regulation to cover driver education of professional 
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drivers, specifically, truck drivers in the country. Considering the size and weight of the vehicles 
being operated by professional drivers, improper and inadequate driver education increases the 
risk to life and property of the driving public. A special professional driver education is 
necessary to ensure road safety of all motorists in the country. 
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This bill seeks to address this need by requiring establislunents employing professional 
drivers, especially truck drivers, to secure for their drivers' a special driver's education program 
before they are allowed to operate in the field. ' 
• This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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, , 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
1794 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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OCT -] P 5 :29 
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REQUIRING SPECIAL DRIVER'S EDUCATION FOR PROFESSIONAL AND TRUCK 
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DRIVERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Professional Driver's 
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Education Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to maintain peace and 
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order, protect life, liberty, and property, and promote the general welfare for the enjoyment by all 
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the people of the blessings of democracy. 
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SECTION 3. Special Driver Education Requirement. - All establishments employing 
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professional drivers shall secure for their drivers, before deployment in the field, a special 
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professional driver's education program to be conducted by an accredited driving school. Such 
, 
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program shall be designed and geared specifically towards safety education and training for truck 
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drivers. 
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SECTION 4. Establishment of Rules and Regulations. - The Land Transportation Office 
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(LTO) shall establish the appropriate rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Revocation or Suspension of License or Certificate. - The LTO may 
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suspend or revoke any license or certificate issued for the operation of commercial trucks and 
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vehicles for violation of any provision of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
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amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act to be included in the annual budget 
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of the L TO in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is declared invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
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subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act, are hereby modified, repealed, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shaH take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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