Here's everything you need to know about car seats before you buy one

The Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte back in February 2019, is now under implementation starting today.

Under the new law, children aged 12 years and below are prohibited from taking the front seats in private vehicles and instead are mandated to be seated in child restraint systems (CRS) or car seats.

For those who are planning to buy car seats for their children, expert and car seat giant carrier Arnel Bascara said that you first need to make sure that the car seat you'll purchase is a perfect fit for your children and their age.

"Dapat sakto sa edad ang ginagamit nating car seat sa mga bata," Bascara said during an interview on Unang Hirit, Tuesday.

"'Yung size po ng car seat ay depende po sa laki, timbang ng mga bata."

He said that the car seat you'll purchase should also be approved by the Department of Trade and Industry, and should pass international standards to ensure its effectiveness.

"Kailangan din may tamang features ito katulad ng buckles at cushion na maproprotect po para sa bata...may boosters, belt na nagcoconnect sa seat belt ng karaniwang sasakyan. Mayroon itong cushion na tumutulong protektahan ang mga bata," he said.

According to Bascara, car seat prices range from P2,700 up to P6,300 depending on its features available.

Should the drivers be found in violation of the new law, they 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.  

Although the law will take effect this week, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will not apprehend violators for the next three months since the agency will focus on the proper information dissemination about the new law, said deputy director of LTO's Law Enforcement Service. — Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News