Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1633

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

A Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) is engaged in the business of carrying or transporting
passengers or goods, or both, for compensation, and offering such services to the general public
Article 1755 of the Civil Code provides that those engaged in the business of carrying or
transporting passengers or goods, or both, is bound to carry the passengers and/or goods safely as
far as human care and foresight can provide, using the utmost diligence of very cautious persons,
with due regard for all circumstances. As such, all matters related to the operations of a PUV is
imbued with public interest and necessitates strict regulation by the government.

At present, any driver who possesses a Professional Driver's License duly issued by the
Land Transportation Office (LTO) can drive a PUV without regard to his skills, experience,
attitude, regard for public safety and knowledge of traffic rules and regulations.

This set-up is quite dangerous as proven by many accidents that affected destroyed the
lives, limbs and properties of persons which were later determined to be caused primarily by
human error, Mechanical defects leading to accidents is greatly outnumbered by those traced to
human errors. In short, PUV drivers, if not regulated properly and under more stringent
measures, poses a clear danger to themselves and to the public.

The safety and well-being of the driver, the operator and the public must be measured
There is now a cogent reason to establish a system in the LTO that will ask for more
requirements and conduct specialized training for PUV drivers. In addition, aside from the
preventive measures mentioned, insurance coverage for all those injured or affected by an
accident involving a PUV must be assured, Finally, to give more teeth to the law, stiffer penalties
shall be imposed upon those who will violate the same.

In view of the foreging, the passage of this bill is most respectfully sou;

“KUYA” JOSE ANYONIO R. SY-ALVARADO }y/
Representative
frst District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. __1833

Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT REQUIRING PUBLIC UTILITY DRIVERS TO SECURE A SPECIAL
UTILITY LICENSE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Tite. This Act shall be known as the “Public Utility Driver's Licensing Act
of 2017”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to enhance the safety of public
transport by ensuring that only qualified will be allowed to drive or operate public utility buses,
jeeps, and other similar modes of mass public transportation.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. ~ For the purpose of interpreting the provisions of this Act,
«the following terms shall mean;

a.) Public Utility Bus ~ any mode of public transport which can carry between twenty five
(25) to sixty five (65) passengers;

b) public Utility Jeep ~ any mode of public transport which can carry between seven (7) to
twenty four (24) passengers;

) Public Utility Trycicle ~ any mode of transport which can carry (1) to six (6) passengers;

d) public Utility Train — any mode of public transport which can carry sixty six (66)
passengers or more.

) Public Utility Operator — any natural or juridical person who owns and/or operate public
utility vehicles regardless of capacity.


SECTION 4. Special License ~ All public utility vehicles are hereby require to secure a Utility
Driver's License before being allowed to drive and ferry commuters to one place to another.

‘The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is hereby authorized to create a Special Driver's

" Licensing Division that shall exclusively administer the issuance and entertain applications for

the Utility Driver’s Licenses.

No Public Utility Driver’s License shall be issued unless the following conditions shall
have been complied with to wit;

A) Fifteen (15) days of actual driving examinations for public utility train, (10) ten days for
bus drivers and public utility jeeps, and (5) five days for trycicles that will show the
actual driving habits of the said applicants, exclusive of (2) two days orientation
regarding internationally accepted traffic rules and regulations;

B) A certificate of safe driving habits to be issued by an LTO accredited private driving
evaluation entity.

SECTION 5. Liability Insurance — No Public Utility Driver’s License shall be issued unless the
applicant shall have purchased or contracted an insurance agreement with a reliable insurance
firm to’ compensate damages, injuries, or death to passengers or third parties in case of
intentional, wrongful, negligent, or accidental injuries in the course of driving a utility vehicle

. For public utility trains, buses, and jeep, the insurance coverage shall be obligated to pay each

injured passenger or third party ‘not less than one hundred fifty thousand pesos (PHP
150,000.00), or the total cost of hospitalization of whichever is higher based on medical
assessment, In case of death, the insurance agreement shall cover the payment of three hundred
thousand pesos (PHP 300,000.00) for each victim.

For public utility trycicles, the insurance coverage shall be obligated to pay each injured
passenger or third party not less than one hundred thousand pesos (PHP 100,000.00), or the total
cost of hospitalization or whichever is higher based on medical assessment. In case of death, the
insurance agreement shall cover payment of two hundred thousand pesos ( PHP 200,000.00) for
each vietim

SECTION 6. Speed Limit. - All public utility vehicles shall not be allowed to run faster than
sixty (60) kilometers per hour of speed. All drivers and/or operators of public utility vehicles
must ensure that speed meters are functioning while the said vehicles are in operation. At the
instance ‘that the driver’ or operator detects a faulty or malfunctioning speed meter, they
immediately request the passengers to disembark and bring the vehicle to the repair shop to fix
the necessary problem,

SECTION 7. Penalties. ~ Any person whether or juridical nature or the operator who shall have

been found to be guilty violating the provisions of this Act shall be meted the following



) For persons driving a utility vehicle without the necessary Utility Driver’s Lisence, a
penalty of five (5) months imprisonment and a fine of fifty thousand (PHPS0,000,00):

b) For licensed utility drivers violating any traffic regulations, a penalty of three (3)
months license suspension and a fine of ten thousand pesos (PHP 10,000.000) for the
first offense, a penalty of six (6) months license suspension and a penalty of twenty
thousand pesos (PHP 20,000.00) will be meted for the second offense and one (1)
year license suspension and fine of fifty thousand pesos (PHP 50,000.00) for
succeeding violations.

Aside from the penalties, violators shall be required to undergo a five (5) day refresher course on
safe driving. Drivers who are guilty of three consecutive violations shall no longer be allowed to
operate a public utility vehicle,

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulation. ~ The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is
hereby mandated to issue the necessary implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90)
days from the approval of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws or parts, order, rules, and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act hereby fepealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectjvity Clause. ~ This Act’ shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or at least in two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,