Public Safety Signages Accountability Act

Senate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Offer of the Secretarp ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session MAY 25 P5:06 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2169 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY SIGNAGES EXPLANATORY NOTE A recent incident happened in Pasay City wherein a vehicle driver was flagged down by a traffic enforcer for allegedly not following the "yellow line" or road signs in the highway. However, upon checking the car digital video recorder, it can be concluded that the alleged "yellow line" is not visible to drivers, whether during daytime or nighttime with the headlights on. The road markings have reportedly not been repainted for several years, causing confusion among motorists and leading many to believe that the traffic rule or lane designation may have already been changed or abandoned. This incident highlights the need for regular maintenance, repainting, and proper visibility of road signs and pavement markings before motorists are penalized for alleged violations. The Land Transportation Office (LTO) implements traffic rules and regulations based on standards established by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which, in turn, adheres to the principles embodied in the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Under Article 6 of the Convention, traffic signs and signals must be installed and maintained in such a manner that they are clearly visible and easily recognizable by motorists in sufficient time for proper response and compliance.

In view thereof, the proper installation, visibility, and regular maintenance of public safety signages and road markings must be strictly enforced to ensure that motorists are adequately informed of traffic regulations and road conditions. Penalizing drivers for allegedly violating road rules despite faded, obscured, or non-visible road markings undermines the fundamental principle that the public must first be properly informed before sanctions may be imposed. Traffic signs and pavement markings exist precisely to guide motorists, whether regular users of a particular route or first-time drivers unfamiliar with the area, and to ensure the orderly and safe flow of traffic. Moreover, inadequate, defective, or poorly maintained road signages and markings do not only endanger motorists but likewise expose pedestrians and other road users to unnecessary risks. Numerous road accidents and fatalities over the years have been attributed to unclear, faulty, or insufficient traffic signs and road markings. Public safety demands that government agencies exercise diligence in ensuring that traffic control devices remain visible, accurate, and compliant with established standards at all times. Indeed, there can be no justification for the preventable loss of innocent lives resulting from negligence in road safety measures. The aforementioned incident is only one example that underscores the critical importance of clear, visible, and properly maintained road signs and pavement markings. With the increasing number of road accidents and traffic-related fatalities in the country, the State must not wait for more lives to be lost before taking decisive action. Road safety measures should not merely be reactive, but preventive in nature. As the saying goes, "prevention is better than cure." Ensuring the proper installation and regular maintenance of traffic signs, lane markings, and other road safety devices is a fundamental duty of the government in protecting the lives and welfare of motorists, pedestrians, and the general public. Through this measure, the concerned government agencies are mandated to construct, install, and maintain road signs, pavement markings, and other traffic safety devices in accordance with both local and internationally accepted standards, with corresponding penalties imposed for failure to comply with such requirements. The strict and consistent enforcement of these standards is expected to significantly reduce

road accidents, enhance traffic discipline, and improve the overall safety of motorists, pedestrians, and other road users. In pursuit of creating safer and more hazard-resilient highways, the immediate passage of this legislation is earnestly sought. JV EJERCITO

Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY 25 P5:06 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 2169 Introduced by Senator JV Ejercito AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRICTER ENFORCEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY SIGNAGES Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Public Safety Signages

2 Accountability Act .

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, - It is the declared policy of the State to

4 safeguard the life, health, property, and the general welfare of the people. Towards 5 this end, the State shall provide the people with appropriate information through the 6 construction, installation, and maintenance of accident-prevention or risk-reduction 7 signages in areas identified as potential risks or dangers.

Sec. 3. Public Safety Signages. - The Department of Public Works and

9 Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the 10 local government units (LGUs) shall undertake the construction, installation, and 11 maintenance of public safety signages. They shall ensure that these signages conform 12 to the standard specifications under Section 4 of this Act and are strategically located, 13 clear, visible and properly maintained. For purposes of this Act, public safety signages refer to regulatory signs, 15 warning signs, guide or informative signs, signs for expressways, signs for special 16 purposes or traffic instruction signs, hazard markers, road works signs, warning 17 signages in areas vulnerable to landslides, floods, storm surge, and other hazards, as

1 well as other risk reduction signages that are officially designed or erected by the 2 national government, local government, or other pertinent government agencies 3 pursuant to any government project or campaign and for the purpose of public safety.

Sec. 4. Public Safety Signages Standard. - All public safety signages shall

5 conform to the standard specifications prescribed under Presidential Decree No. 1096, 6 otherwise known as the "National Building Code of the Philippines", DPWH Road Signs 7 and Pavement Markings Manual, the Outdoor Landslide Warning Signage of the 8 Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau 9 (DENR-MGB), the pertinent provisions of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs 10 and Signals, and other relevant international treaties, laws and issuances from 11 government agencies.

Sec. 5. Public Safety Signages on Geologic Hazards. - The DENR-MGB, in

13 coordination with other pertinent government agencies, shall update the geohazard map and identify areas that are susceptible or prone to various geologic hazards such as floods, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other similar calamities. It shall then coordinate with the affected city and municipal engineers, 17 DPWH, and MMDA for the proper installment of public safety signages on geologic 18 hazards. These signages shall conform to the standard specifications under Section 4 19 of this Act and should be strategically located, clear, visible, and properly maintained.

Sec. 6. Officers in Charge for Road and Traffic Public Safety Signages. - The

DPWH through its respective District Engineers in case of national roads, the MMDA through the Director of the Traffic Engineering Center in case of national roads In Metro Manila, and the LGUs through the City or Municipal engineers in case of local roads, shall be responsible for the duties and responsibilities mentioned under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this Act.

Sec. 7. Administrative Penalties. - In case an injury or death occurs due to:

(a) lack of an installation of public safety signages despite being identified as areas of potential risk or danger by the DENR-MGB; (b) construction of public safety signages contrary to the standards provided I under Section 4 of this Act; or (c) lack or poor maintenance of public safety signage, the DPWH district engineer involved, the MMDA Director of the Traffic Engineering Center or the City or Municipal Engineer shall, after due notice and hearing, suffer the administrative penalty of suspension of one (1)

1 month and one (1) day to three (3) months, for the first offense; three (3) months 2 and one (1) day to six (6) months, for the second offense; six (6) months and one (1) 3 day to one (1) year, for the third offense; and dismissal from service, for the fourth 4 offense. Nothing herein shall prohibit the aggrieved party from initiating a criminal or 6 civil action against the responsible officer.

Sec. 8. Funding. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this

8 Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the concerned agency or 9 city or municipality. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for continued 10 implementation shall be included In the annual budget of the concerned agency or 11 city or municipality.

Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from

13 the approval of this Act, DPWH, in coordination with DILG, MMDA, and DENR, shall 14 promulgate the necessary rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this 15 Act.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, or rules and regulations

17 which are inconsistent or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby amended or repealed accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,