Villanueva seeks strict penalties vs indiscriminate use of sirens, similar devices

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said his Senate Bill No. 2635 was in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s latest directive barring government officials and employees from using sirens, blinkers and other similar devices. | INQUIRER.net stock photo

MANILA, Philippines — A bill has been lodged in the Senate to prohibit and penalize motorists’ indiscriminate use of beacons, sirens, and other emergency vehicle lights and audio accessories.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said his Senate Bill No. 2635, filed Tuesday, was in line with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s latest directive barring government officials and employees from using sirens, blinkers and other similar devices. 

“Yung (The) violators will be fined from a P1,000 to P5,000 with the possibility of the suspension of their driver’s license for a period of one year,” Villanueva said of his bill during the regular Kapihan sa Senado forum.

He said a fine of P50,000 to P100,000 also awaits manufacturers, distributors, importers, retailers or sellers for every sale of the accessories that the proposed law will prohibit.

Meanwhile, vehicles designated for official use by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and other law enforcement agencies will be exempted from the coverage of the measure.

In filing the bill, Villanueva explained how the indiscriminate use of sirens and other emergency devices “poses a significant road safety concern in the Philippines.”

“This misuse not only creates hazards on the roads but also erodes public trust in the responsible operation of motor vehicles, especially when such misuse is committed by public officials to gain undue advantage or assert unwarranted authority over other road users,” he said in the explanatory note in the bill.

Though various enforcement agencies already implement existing regulations, the senator lamented that these “lack uniformity, leading to confusion and ineffective enforcement.”

To address this, Villanueva said his bill seeks to establish a “cohesive framework to regulate and deter the unauthorized use of emergency vehicle lights and audio accessories.”

He said the measure likewise provides mechanisms “to enforce the high standards of conduct that apply to government officials and personnel.”

He said these include “standards on modest living and prioritizing public interest over personal gain, especially in shared and public spaces like Philippine roads.”

“In summary, this bill seeks to enhance road safety, uphold ethical standards in public service, and streamline regulations governing emergency vehicle lights and audio accessories,” he pointed out.

By establishing clear guidelines and enforcement mechanisms, Villanueva said his proposal hopes to promote orderly and secure roadways across the country.