Duterte orders deferment of implementation of child car seat law

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the deferment of the implementation of child car seat law, Malacañang announced Thursday.

“Nagdesisyon na ang ating Presidente. Ipinagpaliban o deferred ang pagpapatupad o implementasyon ng child car seats,” Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

(The President has decided to defer the implementation of the child car seats.)

Republic Act No. 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, aims to keep children safe while aboard motor vehicles. Under its implementing rules and regulations, children aged 12 years old and below and are under 4’11 are no longer allowed to take the front seat or to be left unattended inside a private vehicle.

The law also requires children to use child restraint systems (CRS) or child car seats that are appropriate for their age, height, and weight.

This law, signed by President Duterte in December 2019, was supposed to take effect on Feb. 2.

Roque also said the President also ordered not to make mandatory the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).

“Samantala hindi na po mandatory ang MVIS. Ibig sabihin, kinakailangan walang bagong singil, walang karagdagang singil para sa pagpaparehistro ng mga sasakyan,” he said.

(The MVIS will not be mandatory. Meaning, there will be no additional fees in registering for cars.)

“Ito ang naging desisyon ng Presidente kung saan binalanse ng Pangulo ang pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan sa gitna ng krisis na nararanasan hindi lang ng Pilipinas kundi ang buong mundo,” he added.

(This was the decision of the President where he balanced the needs of the public amid the pandemic.)

EDV