Child restraint systems not yet required in public utility vehicles —JV Ejercito

Former senator JV Ejercito on Tuesday clarified that the child restraint systems are not required in public utility vehicles (PUVs), but parents may opt to use these equipment for their children in riding in taxis, TNVs, and other modes of public transportation if they want to.

Ejercito, who was the sponsor of the controversial Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, made the remark during a Senate panel inquiry into the implementation of the said policy.

He said the law currently does not require the use of child restraint systems or car seats in PUVs.

It, however, mandates the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and other government agencies to submit to Congress their recommendations on how to fit the child restraint systems in PUVs one year after the implementation of the law.

"Kahit di pa sakop ng batas, maaaring gumamit ng child restraint systems sa PUVs katulad ng taxis and TNVs. Kung may available, we actually encourage hand me downs. Kung kinalakihan na ng mga kamag-anak o kaibigan, pwede ito ipahiram," Ejercito said.

"Optional ito at hindi mandatory kung kayo ay sasakay ng taxis or Grab," he added.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in February 2019, the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act mandates that children aged 12 and below use the child restraint systems or car seats and are only allowed to take the front seat if they meet the 4'11' height requirement, on top of using the regular seat belt.

The full implementation of the law was set on February 2, but the LTO said it would focus on the intensified information drive rather than apprehending or issuing tickets against its violators.

Ejercito admitted that while the law has good intentions, its implementation was "untimely and illogical."

"When this law was being drafted, being heard and eventually passed, there was no such thing as pandemic back then. As such, the government has to adapt to the situation," he said.

"Being the principal sponsor for this measure, I would support the suspension of this measure to hold in abeyance of its implementation while there is a pandemic," he added.

Ejercito also called for a proper dissemination of information regarding the provisions of the law.

"Good laws require proper information dissemination. Palagay ko dito nagkulang ang DOTr at LTO, at siguro PNA (Philippine News Agency). Nagkaroon tuloy ng confusion at outrage sa kakulangan ng impormasyon," he said.

The House of Representatives is set to hold its own inquiry into the issues hounding the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act on Wednesday.—AOL, GMA News