MANILA – With the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, President Rodrigo Duterte deemed it is not the right time for the implementation of Republic Act 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act.
According to Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, President Duterte wants to postpone the implementation of the measure since it would be a burden to Filipinos who are already suffering due to COVID-19.
“Siya (Duterte) mismo ayaw rin niyang i-implement ito. Sabi niya not this time,” Go said on Saturday at Laging Handa virtual briefing.
“Hindi pa po napapanahon na i-implement iyang batas na ito. Nagkakahirap-hirap na nga po iyong Pilipino, huwag na nating pahirapan pa,” he added.
The full implementation of RA 11229 was supposed to take effect on February 2 but the Land Transportation Office (LTO) postponed apprehension for six months as it wanted to focus on an intense information campaign.
Under the law, children 12 years are refrained from sitting in the front seat of a private vehicle. They should be placed in a child restraint system (CRS), unless the child is at least 4.92 feet tall and can be properly secured by a regular belt.
Drivers found violating it will face a fine ranging from P1,000 to one-year suspension of driver’s license.
Exemptions are those cases that would put a child’s life in great danger such as during medical emergencies or when the child transported has a medical or developmental condition and other similar circumstances.
Manufacturers, distributors, importers, retailers, and sellers who violate the law will be fined from P50,000 to P100,000 for every CRS product sold without prejudice to other penalties./PN
