Child safety seats in PUVs? Why not? — DOTr

Child safety seat in the back of a car. PHOTO / FREEPIK.COM

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday presented a draft of implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 11229, or the newly enacted child safety seat law. The draft, formulated with legal groups ImagineLaw and Ideals, is set to be published next month.

According to a report published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the transport agency wants to see whether public utility vehicles (PUVs) like buses and jeepneys, as well as school services and ride-hailing cars, should also be required to use child safety seats.

At present, Section 4 of the law covers only private vehicles, including those required to secure a franchise from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Inquirer quoted Evita Ricafort of ImagineLaw as saying.

While the law would lapse into effectivity next month, its mandatory compliance and enforcement will start in September 2020, the Inquirer quoted Justin Elizaga of the DOTr’s legal department as saying.

“What we are aiming for, ultimately, is not just apprehension. What we want is compliance.” Elizaga said.

The law was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 22, the Inquirer said. It requires children to be secured in car seats appropriate for their size, weight and height during transport or even while the vehicle’s engine is running.

These car seats must comply with United Nations Regulations 44 and 129, and other acceptable standards to be determined by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The move is considered by road safety advocates as a huge leap in helping protect children, who are considered the most vulnerable road users by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Inquirer said.

It added PUVs and ride-hailing cars are not yet required to follow the law.