MANILA – Former senator Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito advised parents to bring their own child car seats to ensure the safety of children when riding taxi cabs and transport network vehicle service (TNVS).
“Siguro ‘pag meron kayong sanggol, mas maganda meron na rin ho kayong car seat. Siyempre hindi naman natin siguro mai-eexpect na ang mga taxis ay meron silang car seat,” he said.
The former senator was the principal author of Republic Act 11229 or Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act. On Friday, he said applying child restraint system (CRS) in buses and jeepneys would still be evaluated by the Department of Transportation for a year after the implementation of the law.
“Pero ‘yong sa taxis, they are already equipped with seatbelts. So, puwede na po silang gumamit ng car seat. Sana po preferably meron na po ‘yong parents na sasakay ng halimbawa Grab or taxi,” Ejercito stated.
Section nine of the law states the Department of Transportation (DOTr) shall conduct a study and recommend to Congress the use of CRS in public utility vehicles. If child restraint systems are not applicable in certain public utility vehicles, DOTr shall recommend to Congress other safety measures or regulations for the safe and secure transportation of children in such vehicles.
Under the law, children 12 years and below are disallowed from sitting in the front seat of a private vehicle. They should be placed in a restraint system, unless the child is at least 4.92 feet tall and can be properly secured by a regular belt.
Drivers found violating it will be fined P1,000 for the first offense; P2,000 for the second offense; and P3,000 and a one-year suspension of the driver’s license for the third and succeeding offenses.
Transportation authorities have delayed the full implementation of the child car seat law by six months to focus on intensified information drive on the law./PN
