Aedrian Salazar, Unsplash 

MANILA — A measure seeking to expand the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013  to cover even “tipsy” or slightly drunk drivers was filed at the House of Representatives by Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña.

“Nakita natin na hindi naman kailangan bangenge talaga to be impaired as a driver. Baka kailangan ibaba pa natin ng konti pa ‘yung threshold in terms of alcohol consumption. Kahit tipsy lang, dapat ipagbawal na talaga ang pagmamaneho,” he said.

“Itong ating Iwas Amats, Iwas Aksidente Bill, ang tinitiyak nito ay kaligatasan ng lahat- mula sa mga driver, sa mga mananakay at sa iba pang mga nasa kalsada natin…Kasi nakita natin, the past so many years, almost a third of road related accidents na nagreresult sa kamatayan or death ay dahil nga sa usapin ng pagkalasing o intoxication,” Cendaña added.

“Saktong sakto ito ngayong panahon ng Kapaskuhan. Maraming Christmas parties, maraming inuman mula ngayon hanggang sa Bagong Taon, at sana maging maingat ‘yung ating mga kababayan na mga nagmamaneho… Kung tipsy na, awat na, huwag na magmaneho, mag-commute nalang o magkaroon ng designated driver,” the lawmaker said. 

Asked about the metrics for determining if a driver is tipsy, Cendaña said it would have to be defined by experts in the implementing rules and regulations. He however noted that it can be determined through blood alcohol concentration.

“Generally, across different areas in the world, anything above 0.05 blood alcohol concentration, dapat hindi na pagmanehohin, kasi impaired na ang ating driver,” Cendaña said.

Under House Bill 11220 or the proposed Anti-Impaired Driving Act of 2024, the Land Transportation Office and its deputized toll operators shall regularly conduct random terminal and toll inspections of private and public utility drivers.

The bill recommends stiffer penalties for violators, including the confiscation of nonprofessional driver’s license for 24 months on the first conviction, and perpetual revocation on the second conviction. The professional driver’s license of violators, meanwhile, shall be perpetually revoked on the first conviction, under the measure.

It also mandates private and public establishments serving alcohol to institute proactive measures to prevent impaired driving, such as “engaging designated drivers” or “alternative modes of transport for impaired drivers”.

The bill mandates the LTO and the Philippine National Police to acquire and maintain the “adequate” number of breath analyzers within six months from enactment of the measure, as determined by a needs assessment jointly conducted by the LTO and the PNP every two years. Funding for these devices shall be sourced from the annual budget of the two agencies, supplemented by grants and donations.