House OKs bill increasing penalties for drunk driving

MANILA, Philippines — People driving under the influence of alcohol or dangerous drugs (DUI) will soon face stiffer penalties under amendments to the law approved by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Lawmakers approved on second reading House Bill 8914, which seeks to amend Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero, principal author of the bill, cited the need to give more teeth to the law to prevent road crashes.

“There’s still a significant number of DUI cases and we need to address this to protect both motorists and pedestrians and ensure road safety,” the 1-Pacman party-list congressman told The STAR.

Romero said the current penalties for DUI under RA 10586 – maximum of three months in prison and a fine of up to P80,000 – appear to be insufficient in preventing violations leading to road accidents.