SENATOR Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to strengthen the country’s anti-drunk and drugged driving law, citing gaps that continue to put young Filipinos at risk on the road.

Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 2068 aims to amend Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013, which he said has failed to keep pace with current road conditions.

Citing government data, Aquino noted that road crashes remain one of the leading causes of death among young Filipinos, with drunk driving cases rising by 255.8 percent compared to the previous year.

“What was intended to be a strong deterrent has not kept pace with the realities on our roads. Too many families continue to lose loved ones. Too many drivers still take the risk of getting behind the wheel while impaired. And too often, accountability comes too late, or not at all,” he said.

Aquino cited the case of 23-year-old Kingston Ralph Cheng, who was killed in a hit-and-run incident involving an alleged drunk driver in Cebu City on February 8, 2026.

“Kingston’s case exposed a critical gap in the law. Because testing was delayed, the suspect’s blood alcohol level had already dissipated, making it difficult to establish intoxication at the time of the incident. Under the current law, a driver can evade liability simply by avoiding immediate testing. This is unacceptable; justice should not depend on how long someone can delay enforcement,” he said in his bill’s explanatory note.

“The death of Kingston Cheng is a painful reminder that we must do better to keep our roads safe. Ang mga pagbag-o niining balaod nagsiguro nga ang atong mga lagda dili lamang reaktibo, apan proaktibo; dili lamang silot, apan pang-prebentibo,” he added.

The proposed measure introduces stricter, science-based blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits—0.02 percent for novice and professional drivers, including public utility vehicle operators, and 0.03 percent for private vehicle drivers.

To prevent evasion, the bill enforces implied consent, meaning all licensed drivers automatically agree to undergo alcohol or drug testing when required by law. It also mandates chemical testing within two hours of an incident, with law enforcement and medical institutions required to ensure immediate compliance.

The measure further allows the use of retrograde extrapolation, a scientific method that estimates a driver’s BAC at the time of driving based on later test results.

Beyond enforcement, the bill promotes prevention and rehabilitation by requiring offenders to undergo state-accredited alcohol safety programs and mandating ignition interlock devices for repeat violators.

“At its core, this measure adopts a ‘Vision Zero’ approach—the belief that no loss of life on our roads is acceptable. Road safety is not just a matter of enforcement. It is a matter of policy, design, behavior, and accountability working together,” Aquino said.