The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is considering mandating jeepneys, buses, and other public utility vehicles (PUVs) to comply with the child safety seat requirement.
In an interview over Radyo5, lawyer Roberto Valera, LTO deputy director for law enforcement, said they are currently studying on whether PUVs should also have child safety seats.
“Tinitingnan kasi namin sa jeepney kasi ang posisyon ng upuan ay (nasa) side kaya ‘di required paggamit ng seatbelt sa likod. Ang contemplation kasi ng batas sa likod ang bata.”
According to Valera, they are closely coordinating with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to come up with the decision.
For now, Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act only covers private 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.
Violators can face fines up to P5,000 and suspension of driver’s license for a year.
“Ang binibigyan namin ng primordial importance ngayon, ‘yung tatlong task ng LTO, ‘yung enforcement, inspection of car seat, at accreditation of fitting station,” said Valera.
“Kasi ngayon bagong batas, nag-a-adjust pa kami. Meron kaming protocol na-develop at binabago namin dahil we have to make sure kasi ‘yung bata is in presence ditto,” he added.
The new law was supposed to be implemented starting Feb. 2, but transportation officials decided to defer it for the next three to six months while the government undertakes an information campaign about the measure.IMT
