TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -7 P4:32 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. 1133 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT INTEGRATING BASIC ROAD SAFETY AND COMPREHENSIVE DRIVER'S EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION (K TO 12) PROGRAM EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines is grappling with a road-safety crisis.! The highest number of deaths connected to land-based accidents have been recorded in recent years with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recording over 13,000 deaths in 2023 alone, the highest recorded in over a decade.? A significant number of these incidents also disproportionately involve young people. This has also raised the concerns of the Department of Health', thus underscoring the need for comprehensive road safety education to be introduced in our schools. The far-reaching socio-economic consequences of land-based accidents are immense and burden a healthcare system that is already stretched thin, and also inflicts profound emotional and financial hardship on many Filipino families. This 1 Daily Tribune (2025). Inside the Phl road safety crisis (2) 2 Philippine Statistics Authority (2025). Land transport accidents account 1.9 percent of deaths in the country, highest number of deaths recorded in 2023 3 Inquirer.net (2025). Rise in road crash deaths of kids is a rights issue - DOH chief 4 Daily Tribune (2025).
initiative aims to cultivate responsible road behaviors and safety awareness from an early age to combat these alarming trends. To improve effectiveness, this bill proposes the integration of practical and theoretical road safety modules into the existing K-12 curriculum in our schools. These modules would cover a lot of ground - from learning to read basic traffic signs, respecting the rights of pedestrians, and the fatal risks of driving while distracted or inebriated by alcohol and other dangerous substances. This proactive approach will give our students the essential knowledge and skills they need, to become responsible and safety-conscious road users. This legislative measure seeks to enhance our existing policy of laws by empowering our students with essential road-safety skill. This bill also seeks to significantly contribute to reducing accidents in our roads and their associated costs by cultivating a culture of accountability and caution among our youth, thereby fostering a new commitment of the State in protecting lives and building a foundation of road safety across the nation. In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO
-. "?'! TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session AUG -7 P4:32 SENATE RECEIVZO B! S. No. 1133 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito INTEGRATING BASIC ROAD SANTA AND COMPREHENSIVE DRIVER'S EDUCATION IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION (K TO 12) PROGRAM Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: ARTICLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Comprehensive Road
Safety Education Act".
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
reduce road accidents on all types of roads used for transportation by raising the awareness of road users such as pedestrians, commuters and motorists on their rights 6 and responsibilities and the everyday risks that they face. As such, the State shall 7 ensure that all road users are aware of the principles of basic road safety and comprehensive driver's education.
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act:
a. Basic Road Safety shall refer to the rights and responsibilities of pedestrians and commuters in their use of all types of roads used for transportation in order to reduce the incidence of road accidents. It shall include, but not limited to, road awareness, road signages, responsible commuting, and the responsibilities of pedestrians;
b. Comprehensive Driver's Education shall refer to the rights and responsibilities their use of on all types of roads used for transportation in order to reduce the incidence of road accidents. It shall include but not be limited to basic road safety and its components, education on pertinent laws and rules and regulations on driving, traffic signages, driving safety, and car passenger safety; c. K to 12 Program shall refer to the enhanced basic education program created under Republic Act No. 10533, otherwise known as the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013". ARTICLE II PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Sec. 4. Integration into Curriculum. - Basic road safety and comprehensive
13 driver's education are hereby integrated into the curriculum of the K to 12 program. Basic road safety shall be made part of the elementary curriculum. Comprehensive driver's education shall be made part of the junior and senior high school and higher 16 education curricula.
Sec. 5. Ad-Hoc Curriculum Committee. - There shall be created an ad-hoc
curriculum committee composed of the Secretary of the Department of Education 19 (DepEd), the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the executive director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the executive director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), or their permanent representatives. The committee shall be administratively attached to the DepEd and chaired by the DepEd Secretary or his permanent representative. The Committee shall conduct public hearings and consult concerned stakeholders from the private and non-governmental sectors. 20 The committee shall convene within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act and shall have one (1) year to design the basic road safety and comprehensive driver's education program and its components. Thereafter, the Committee shall be functus officio and the member agencies shall ensure the full and continuing implementation of this Act.
ARTICLE III FINAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The funds needed for the purpose of this Act shall
4 be indicated as a line item under the budget of the DepEd under the General 5 Appropriations Act. Appropriations for the implementation of this Act shall be sourced 6 from the Special Road Safety Fund as created under Republic Act No. 8794.
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, CHED, DOTr, LTO,
8 LTFRB, and MMDA shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity.
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the sections or provisions which are not affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, ordinances,
rules, regulations, other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,