DTI plans to impose an age limit on hoverboarders

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is considering prohibiting the use of hoverboards by children below 14 years old.

A report by Steve Dailisan on GMA-7's "24 Oras" said the agency wants to check just how safe the hoverboards are because of reports from overseas that some units exploded, usually because of battery problems.

DTI clarified that no similar case has been recorded in the country yet.

Airline companies such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have already banned hoverboards and similar self-balancing vehicles on board aircraft whether as a hand-carry or checked-in item. 

Hoverboards run on batteries, which have been widely reported to have a tendency to overheat or spontaneously ignite, especially when inside an aircraft. 

Ray An Salcena, a hoverboard seller, said he sold 70 units in December alone. He added that none of the buyers have returned or complained about their purchase. He is still getting a lot of orders.

Salcena added that he does not use LED batteries in hoverboards because they overheat fast. Instead, they use lithium-ion batteries.

"Kumbaga iyong battery na bilog-bilog na kung nag-o-overcharge ka, iyon ang umiinit. Tsaka siya umiinit, minsan sumasabog, o umaapoy. Ang lithium, iyon ang parang sa cellphone. Iyong maninipis," he explained.

Salcena also reminded parents who are buying hoverboards for their kids to take safety precautions.

"As a parent din, noong una kong pinasubok sa anak ko, talagang may guide. Gina-guide ko talaga hanggang sa makatayo na siya sa sarili niya and talagang naka-helmet din," he added. — Trisha Macas/BAP, GMA News