S No 3211

ll. No 4531

2f{epublic off.~ e ll1ilippines

filrrngtzz of t4 1~4tlipJiinz
2)1Refro~1:tr1i!u

I
Begun and held in M etro M anila, on Monday, the t wenty-s eventh
day of July, two thousand fifteen. .......... ,

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r R EPUB LIC A CT No. 10 913

AN ACT DEFINlNG AND PENALIZING DISTRACTED

DRIVTN<i

Be 11 enacted by the Senate and flouse of Representatives of the

Philippines in Congress assembled.

SECTION l. Short Title. - This Act s ha ll be known as

t.he "Anti-Dist.meted Driving Act" .

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - I t is here by declar ed th e

policy of the State to safeguard it.s cit.izenry from the ruinous
and ext reme ly injurious effects of ve h icular accidents.

While the State recognizes the vi tal roles of information

and comri1unications technology in nation-bu.ilding, the State
also takes cogniza nce of the in imical consequences of the
unrestrained use of electronic mobile devices on road safety
as to ca use its regula Lion.
 L.
3

SEC. 3. Definition of Tern's performance by a motorist of any of the following acts in a

. - As use d m
. tl.
us Ac t : m otor vehicle in motion or temporarily stopped at a red light,
(a) Diplomatic motor h l whether diplomatic, public or private, which are hereby declared
or owned by a fore . . ve Lc e :-- any motor vehicle leased unlawful:
. ign nnssion and its staff for their official use;
(b) Electronic entertain . . (a) Using a mobile communications device to write, send,
handheld electron d . ment and computing device - any or read a text-based communication or to make or receive calls,
processing reco din ic ev1ce cap bl f d. "t
. a e o ig1 a m ormat10n1 . f .
and other similar acts; and
operations' suchr as g, b~~ptunng. or. displaying and computing
tablets, "lride0-a.a-me 'eonsut;!.~~--liarru!;d __!:~_laptoP., .c~mputers, (b) Usin_g_C1,D.~1-gc,:g9!1,ic;_ ~ntertffinment or c;omputing_ d(:lvice
"' :s ""' an ca!Culators; to play games, watch movies, surf the internet, compose
(c) Government motor h l messages, read e-books, perform calculations, and other similar
by the national ve ice - any motor vehicle owned acts.
.1nstrumentaliti government . . or any of i.t s agencies,
.
government-ow esd or political subdivisions, including SEC. 5. Extent of Coverage. - (a) The operation of a .
subsidiaries for onffe.. 0 r -controlled corporations or Lheir mobile communications device is not considered to be distracted
icia1 use;
-&riving if done using the aid of a hands-free function or
(d) Implementing a similar device such as, but not limited to, a speaker phone,
Transportation and C ger:cy. - the Department of earphones and microphone~ or other similar devices which
Office (DOTC-LTO); ommumcations-Land Transportation allow a person to make and receive calls without having to
hold the mobile communications device: Provided, That the
(e) Mobile comm . placement of the mobile communications device or the
communications . unLcations devices - electronic hands-free demce does not interfere with the line of sight of
cellular phones weqluipmtelent such as, but not limited to, the driver. '
pagers and othe , ire ess
. il ephones
. , t wo-way radio transce1vers,
.
i
receiving or both r ~rm ar devices capable of transmitting, (b) W15.eeled agricultural machineries such as tractors and
wireless ~lectroni '
0
encrypted data and/or signals through construction equipment such as graders, rollers, backhoes,
c or any other similar means; payloaders, cranes, bulldozers, mobile concrete mixers and the
(f) Motor vehicle _ en d . . like, and other forms of conveyances such as bicycles, pedicabs,
not limited to t b .g:Ine- riven vehicles such as, but "habal-habal", trolleys, "kuligligs", wagons, carriages, carts,
motorcycles and ta~ oml iles, trucks , vans , buses, jeeps,
0
sledges, chariots or the like, whether animal or human-powered,
ncyc es;
are covered by the provisions of this Act as long as the same
(g) Motorist - a pers dr. . are operated or driven in public thoroughfares, highways or ',__.
on IVlllg a motor vehicle; streets or under circumstances where public safety is under
(h) Private motor veh z consideration.
individuals and j di al LC e - any motor vehicle owned by
un c persons for private use; and (c) The provisions of this Act shall not apply to motorists
c9 Public motor vehicle
franchise issued by the a
- . .
. a. motor ve!llcle with a vahd
of motor vehicles which are not in motion, except those which
are stopped momentarily at a red light, or are pulled over to
operate as a publi tili. ppr~priate government agency to the side of the road in compliance with a traffic regulation.
. c u ty vehicle or any vehicle for hire.
. SEC. 4. Distracted Drivin _ S b. ali. . SEC. 6. Exemptions. - The provisions of this Act shall not
m Sect10ns 5 and 6 0 f thi A g. . u Ject to the qu cations apply to the following:
s ct, distracted driving refers to the
4 5
(a) A motorist using a mobile phone for emergency
purposes, including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a
law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department,
or other emergency services, agency or entity; and
(b) A motorist using a mobile phone while operating an
emergency vehicle such as an ambulance, a fire truck, and other
vehicles providing emergency assistance, in the course and scope
of his or her duties.
SEC. 7. Nationwide Pu,blic Information Campa1:gn. - The
DOTC-LTO, 'in coordination with the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA), the Department of Education (DepEd), the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the
Philippine National Police (PNP) and private agencies and
organizations shall undertake a nationwide information, education
and communication (IEC) campaign for.. a period of six (6) months
from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 8. Penalties. - Any person who shall violate any
provision of this Act shall be penalized with:
(a) A fine of five thousand pesos (PS,000.00) for the first
offense;
(b) A fine of ten thousand pesos (Pl0,000.00) for the second
offense;
(c) A fine of fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) and
suspension of driver's license for three (3) months for the third
offense; and
(d) A fine of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) and
revocation of driver's license: Provided, That the implementing
agency may -in:crease-t-he amGttB-t .gf fine ..herein i.mpos~d once
every five (5) years in the amount not excee_ding ten percent
(10%) of the existing rates sought to be increased which shall
fake effect only upon publication in at least two (2) newspapers
of general circulation: Provided, further, That a driver of a
public utility vehicle, a school bus, a school service vehicle,
a common carrier hauling volatile, flammable or toxic material,
or a driver who commits an act classified herein as distracted
driving within a fifty (50)-meter radius from the school
premises shall be subject to a penalty of thirty thousand pesos
(P30,000.00) and suspension of one's drjver's license for three
(3) months.
The foregoing penalties shall be imposed without prejudice
to other 1:iabilities under the Revised Penal Code or any special
) law, ansmg out or on occasion of the herein prohibited acts.
J SEC. 9. Liability of Owner and/or Operator of the Vehicle
Driven by the Offender. - The owner and/or operator of the
vehicle driven by the offender shall be directly and principally
held liable together with the offender for the fine unless he or
she is able to convincingly prove that he or she has exercised -
extraordinary diligence in the selection and supervision of his
or her drivers in general and the offending driver in particular.
: .1
This section shall principally apply to 'the owners and/or
operators of public utility vehicles and commercial vehicles such
as delivery vans, cargo trucks, container trucks, school and
company buses, hotel transports, cars or vans for rent, taxi
cabs, and the like.
SEC. 10. Enforcement and Assistance by Other Agencies.
- The Metro, Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the PNP
and other c;'ncerned government agencies and instrumentalities
shal~ .be responsible for the enforcement of the foregoing
provisions and shall render such assistance as may be required
by the DOTC-LTO in order to effectively implement the
provisions of this AcL.
SEC. 11. Imp lementing Rules and Regulations. - The
D01'C-LTO shaD promulgate the necessary implementing rules.
and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act.
-SEe. 12. Repealing Clause. - Any -law, .prcesicl.ential -decr-ee
or issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative
i order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
i according1y.
 _ _ _................ ""' .,,,. -~......i-.;ao-....:...a. ...... _ ........ -..:... .~.

SEC. 1.3'. Separa~ility ~lause. - If, for any rea son, any I;
part or proVIston of this Act 1s declared invalid, such declaration
shall not affect the other provis ions of Lhis Act.

SEC. 1~. Effectiuity. - This AcL shalJ take effect fifteen (15)
days after its ~ub lication in at least two (2) newspapers of
gener al circulatwn.

Approved,

d~~ ~
FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. F NKLIN M. DRTLON
Speaker of the House P esident of the Senate
of Representatives

'I'his Act was passed by t he nate of Lh~ P h ilippines

-
as SenaLe Bill No. 3211 on May 30, 20 16 and adopled by the
House of Representatives .as an amenclmenL Lo House Bill
No. 4531 on June 6, 2016.

ktrv:.
Secretary Ge1~~l
y AP
House of Representatives

Appr oved:

BENIGNO S. AQUINO lH
President of th e Philippines ..:
..:
I

0 .
. JUL 2 1 2616
1. ~ p:t1e G int.u law on _ _ ~---,.t a,:;;::mr
Without 11le Si9nature of the Prefi\j~~~m.
In acc0rda n 1~e w:!f) 1\rticlc V I, .~I~c~Jpn
'l.1 (1) of i he Con~ ::tu tion .
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS (IRR) OF
REPUBLIC ACT 10913
(DEFINING AND PENALIZING DISTRACTED DRtviNG) .
1~
RULE.1 - PRJ!UMlNARY PROVISIONS :
Section 1 ShortTJtle and Purpose
The Implementing Rules and Regulations, hereinafter called the IRR, ls
promulgared pursuanr co Secdon II ofRepublicAct.1091:;1. otherwise known
as the An Act Defining and Penallzlng.Dlstracted Drlvlng.' for.the p1-1rpose of .
prescr1blng rhe necessary rules and regulations for Its Implementation.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy . ...
1t ls h~<>hy declared the pollcy of the State to sa_f egua,.:d I~ cltl;emy from j
the ruinous and extremely Injurious effects of vehicular acc.1dents.
While the State recognizes the vital mies of " lnfor:i!'i!ttfon
communications techn~logy In _ nation-building. the_k:~~~i.,iiiJ}~~-ke
cognlz.ance of the Inimical consequences of the un'restralned;:.t-us <>f
electronic mobile devices.on road safety as to cause lts.W.gui'ai:ioii'.~h'
..:;l-;;f&~~~;. t
Section 3. Deflnltfon ofTerms . . - ":..
As used In this \RR: '!y~'i,ff'. . J:<'i
a . Diplon~atic m~tor vehJcle - any motor v~tii~~f:lJasod or owned by a~~
(orGlg~/~Jssion a nd its st41fTfor thei~ ~f!l~!~~-h~!.~\t. . , ~-~ ~ . ~J., ~lf:'
b. Electron'lc enten.ainment and computlng~i:levlce - r ;.any handheld ~;
elec~iri.r~de~JcF.~a1>abt!')~f digl~IJ.tifo_~~~~i"i." proce~lng. recordlnS:~J
captu[.i_~g cpt;,d_l~laying~P~.~~!'.'!l).Jl.ut!n11:op,i!.ri!,~~ns such as, but noti.i
Ji1ntte~.h~ofiltaptop1 comput~,,;1ta]:Jl~ game consoles an~li;~
caJcn13.tOT,s;:.u!:.~:. : '. '
c. Emerge~cyJi,!;'~iil sltuatlon-thai'Y. ... , . ,,. ..~f~/ts~'.'tc:! health, Jll~~)~i
'~: :wrJ:t:~-~~:.i.;"t;.i.((~1/kt; .
property, or,:'-ei}vf ronment;
-J: . - ~;:. .. -:,..;:~-~~H~.~:-:.-r~ ..... . ~'.r~.
d. Governnt~ril\tmotor . vehicle - i~n.Y;{f,!l~to~}_,~elit.8e : owned by '!tli)'.. ~
natJqrial_.;_gq,~emment or.. any o,D;lts'>_agi;rCJe~/i-!ristrumentalltles' ori~:;
.-tpollttcal subdlvlslons,"ln:Cluding government-oW?led or .-controlled
!i/lcorporatlon.!>i;their subsldtaries for official. use;
' <.':;1mplementlng1lgency - the Department of Transportatlnn - Land
0
>o':.Transportation Office (OOTr-LTO); .
}J:'i Molille commu"nicatloos devices - . electronic communications
~i.i: equipment such. <is but not limited to. cellular phones, wlr~less'
~-;;, . 'telepho11e:S/ two-way radio transceivers, pagers and other s imilar
k'~ devicl.s capabl,. of transmitting. receiving. or both, of encrypted data
" and/or signals wireless .electrontc or any otl1er slmllar means and
devlc:e..oe;i .
g. Motor vehl~le - any vehicle propelled by any power other than
m\lscular power using the publlc highways. but excepting road
rollers, tro11ey cars ~"'treet-~Wt1:epers, sprinklers:, lawn n1owers...
1 In lieu of the conflsaition of the driver's license.
bulldozers. graders. forklifts, amphibian trucks, and cranes Jf not used
on public highways, vehicle which run only on ralls or tracks, "nd
tractors~ trailers and tractor eng..in~s of all kinds u sed exclusively for
agricultural purposes;
h. Motorist- a person driving a motor.vehicle;
I. Privare motur vehicle - a mo~or vehicle . owned ..by, ,indlvl4uals and
juridical person for private us<?; and .. .. . . ..:<;'i;.. .
j . Public motor vehicle - a motor vehicle' with a "valld .franchise tSsued
by the appropriate government agency. to oP.,rate as a "public utility ,
vchl~lc or :in}' Vehicle for hire. ' l'i, . ., ~ .~:..,
RULE 2 - PROHJBlTlON, COVERAGE AND EXEMPTIONS
Section 4. Distracted Driving . . . the Offender
S ubject to the qualification in Sections S and 6 of this 1RR. d!stract~il._drlvJ~g
refers to the performance by a motorist of any of the following acts,ln -"
motor vehicle In motion, or. temporarily stopped at a tramc light or any
inters ection. whether diplomatic. public or private:
a. Using a mobile communications device to write, ~end, or ~ead a text-
based communtcatJon. or to make or receive.cans. aud other similar
. acts; and . , .
b. Using an electronic entertainment cir compu.t lngl.-devtce . ~.',play
I
g.,rnes, war ch_ movies, s urf the inlern~t. cOmpose messages: read a-:
books, perform calculation, and otflcr slmllar acts.
. Secllon 5. Extent of Coverage . ' ' ,, ; ,,.
a. The operation of a mobile communications device Is not c:onslderei;t
to be distracted driving If done using the aid of a h a nd-free function
or similar device such as. but not' limited. lo, a speaker phone.
earp~ones and microphones or oth~r similar devlces which allow a
person to '!lake .and receive calls ..wlrhout having to hold the mobile
communications device: Provided, That the placement of the mobile
communications device. or the hands-free device does not Interfere .
with tl1e line of sight of the driver, . ._..
b. Wheeled .agricultural machlncrtcs such as tracro..S ~nd construction
equipment such as graders. rull"r, backhoes, pay .loaders, cranes,
bulldozers, mobile -concrete mixers and the like, and 'ot.hei:.,(o;>rr~~-i~f.9
conveyances such as bicycles.- p~';dlcal?s, h a~al~habal, ~;.n-p._11.,:Ys~;:>
-kullglig", wagons,. carriages. car'ts. sledges. cha1:"fots ._br1, ~he .: llke;;i
whether anJmal or hu111anpowcred, are covered by the proy1~lons . o.p:/
this JRR as long as the same are operated or driven lri ,"publrc .''
rhuroughfares, highways o r strl!ets, or under circumstances where..
public safery Is under cons ideration. ' ,.,
c. The prov!slon of this IRR !)hall ;,ot apply to a motorist" Qf motor
ve hicles which are not in motion. except those which -are stopped
moinentarlly at a rraffic light or._3.ny lntersectl!'n, or are .pulled over '!?
.tl1e side of the road in compliance with a traffic regulatlon. : . . . . ' . .
WEDNESDAY I . MAY 3, 2017
,
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. i:cli:l!mMna~U:@t_:.C:al;!inlt;Yi-'bombth
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.. ..,.,,'.,: acrlv,lsin',.-.', ti1frastruc:it1re' :. fallore . _",;nd ,:'._,"blOloglcal., :, 'chemlcal, or
. . ...: :.:.,, '.;,::radlo.lctfv.:t.haz:ar.d .SJlill o.r.reJ~a~e; ~ . ._~:.:; . ..:.: >, .. :~~\- ._~.
.'<::. ..:,.,ii(ll) .government or non-go'-i1ern:ineri~ heittf1{caie- )>Rrvtder. or : a i:
4
. 1~1"
; ."animal
.' -
. . ~/;.~~:;;~~dJcat :.. P!"~ctitJoner. ~. arid .' ~ni~rgency . re~f~e 11.Units.~?~j.~1 ~~nee~
. requiri ng ln'lmedlate-medlcal attenllon;"i1"' .: . ' ~c,: .
(m) fire dcpartme11t' or tfon:govern~e~t fl~ vo'liinteer{i~ 'th~ ,eventi :
~f ~re/Qplo:slon; :: -;~~..; ---~ ;.:,:i. :...~:. 1- \ ~;~ .... ~. L . . ~~:: , ._.::
(1v) . other en1eri:e~"'Servfces, agency.. or entlry_. rendering electJ"!c,:. :,
gas, water, chemical, ,towing and othor.-slmilar services, ifi ln st;onces
1equlrlng lmmedla~ ;attentloi'-"ilo sav~ Jives and properties or .-t!'
r~movc hazards front: the envfn~n~~nt; and.. . "'.A J .: ._;.,
;," (v)" 9,ther analogous drcumstllni:~s;;:,;$".''11'~' "'~~~-,:-1-:I~\;: "";...~ ~ .
J ofA motorist using a moblle pbone whii.; :ope\.ating an emergehcy vehlci~(
and :,.;.;or a private vehicle while' responding to an _e mergency call.
.,_~. RULE 3- PUBLiCJNFORMATJON CAMPAIGN
Sec:tloo 7; Na.tionwlde Public Jnformation Campaign
1 The DOTrLTO; In coordination with the Phl_llpplne Information Agency
(PIA), 1.he Department of Educalion (DepEd), the Department of Interior and
~al Government (DILG). the Philippine National Police (PNP). and prlvate
agencies a nd organizations shall undertake lnforrru:ion, cdu~tlon, and
Co1mnunlqltlon (IEC) campaign for a period of tJiree (3) montbs from the
effectlvlty_~fthis JRR. . ., . . .;:, . .
'.< , ..RULE!4 PEN.ALTIES
Section 8. Penalties ' , ,. ,.... , .\ , ;-" .,.
1
~a
Any porson who shall vfolate <any -p~(rislon or this IRR shall be pen11ll:r.ed
wllh: . . . . . ..
a. A fine of five.~ii~us~.1dtpe;~'t;(P~%oci.bo) for the fi~t offen,se:
... ~!'.......1:.. ..;:!J
,':: ' .b. A fine of te.n ."lb_9 usaild peso"s (l:'io:oo.OO) for the sec.;nd offense;. .
c. A fine of;",fl~een . thousand.pesp5-,(P1s,oo.o.oo). and suspension of
~ driver's licens~ tof threo .(3)'rmcmths, for the third offense: and
. . d. A fine of twenty t~ousand peso!';.{l'Zo,cio9.oo) for the fourth offense
and succeeding offenses, arid. revoca'tfo~of driwr'sllceose;
Provided, that a drlv~r "of a pu~li; ;IJ.~i:t#'~hl~le. a school b~s. a school
service vehicle. a common carrler.;..haullng volatile, flammable or toxic
material, or a driver who commits an act clas5ified herein a~ distracted
driving within a fifty (SO)meter radlu:s from the school premises shall be
subject to a penalty of thlrcy thousand pesos (P30.000.00) and s u,spenslon
of one"s driver's license for tl1ree (3) months.
Pro1lld'1d, that In the lmplementatlon or Section S(c) hereof. an offender.
'operating a conv<>yan ce or machinery which do not require a driver's
llcen~e. the penalry shall be Jmpoundment of the conveyance or machinery
Provided, further. that In the event the fine Imposed Is not settled within six
(6) months from tl1e date of apprehension. the lmf!lemcntlng agency s h all
exhaust all 'J.vallable legal remedies to Implement thls Section.
The foreguing penalties shall be Imposed wltl>out prejudice tO other
llabllltles und.;r the Revised Penal Code or any special law, arising out or on
occasion of the herein prohibited acts.
The Implementing agency may Increase tho amo unt of fine herein Imposed
once every nve (5) yearg in the amount not exceeding ten percent (10%) of
Ute exi.stlng rates sought to be Increased which shall take effect only UJ)OI\
publ.i cation in at lea~~ two (2) newspapers of general clrculatlon.
Section 9. Liability of Owner and/or Operator of the Vehicle Driven by
The owner arid/or operator of the vehicle driven by the offender shall" tie
directly and principally held llahlo togetl1er wjtJ1 the offender for the fine,
.unless he or she Is able to convincingly prove that he or s he bas exercis"d
extraor'1inary diligence Jn the selection and supervision of his or her drivers
in general. and the offending driver In partlcular.
This section shall prl11clpally apply to the owner~ and/or operators of public
. :-::' .: ... . . utility ve.hlcles and commerdal vehicles $UCh as delivery vans. cargo truc ks.
container lTucks~ school and com :p611ny buses.. hotel transpC!rts. c a rs or vans
f.:u- r ent, taxi cab, and t.he like.
RULE S - ENFORCEMENT
Section 10. Enforcement and Assistance by Other Agencies
The Metropolitan Manila "Development Authorlry (MMDA), the Phlllpplne
National Police (PNP). and other concerned government agencies and
lnstrurnentalltles~ such as, but not: Umlted to,, the respective provincial/ local
goven\menr: unics and spccJal econ omtC zone &uthorJrles. shall a lso be
responsible for the e nforcement ofrith-e forecoJng provls1ons md s hait
render such assistance as may be required .by the Do1r~ i.TO . In order to
effecthtely Implement t he prov isions ofthl.s IRR.. 1 ,_
RULE 6 l'INAL PROVISIONS
Section 1.1. Repeating Clause
Any administrative order, rule or regulation cont1:ary to, or lncons1stent
with rhe . P[Ovlslons o f llds JRR Is h ereby repealeil, modified and/or
~i:i~er\"ded .acconltngly. r
. :Section 12. Separability Clause . . .
.' .."Jf.-.for ;my reason, any part or proVlslon of"thls IRR Is declared Invalid." such
dedarutl<>n shall not affect the other pr ovis ions of this I RR.
Sectlon_;t._~l\rEfTectlvtty . _ .
This .IR~ (sl)~irt.a.~c\ effec(flf'teen (15) calendar days after Its publlcatlon In
the Official Gazette or, In .~ ne~spaper of general nationwide circulation, and .
upon,flHnt:whh the-University of the Philippines Law Center of three (3)
ccrtl"flcd..copies. : '.
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