"Children, as passengers and pedestrians, deserve full protection from road accidents," said Santiago, author of House Bill 2590, which seeks to integrate a special course on traffic rules and road safety in the basic education curriculum.

Santiago also lauded Toyota for pioneering road safety courses in 20 selected high schools in Metro Manila through "Early Warning," a joint project with the Society of Philippine Motoring Journalists.

At least 11 Filipino children are killed, maimed or injured every hour in motor vehicle accidents nationwide, according to Safe Kids Philippines, a private non-profit group committed to promoting road safety for children.

Children 15 years old and below are most vulnerable in road mishaps, according to the University of the Philippines’ National Center for Transport Studies.

Santiago’s bill mandates the Department of Education and the Land Transportation Office to train school teachers so that they would gain the knowledge necessary for them to provide instruction on the fundamentals of traffic rules and road safety in all elementary and high schools.

Santiago said the inclusion of a course on traffic rules and road safety in school programs would "at an early age, inculcate and instill personal discipline and develop sound values among Filipinos, as drivers, commuters and pedestrians."