By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte's former aide and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, said the chief executive himself does not want to implement the child car seat law during this time. 

“Nakausap ko si Pangulong Duterte, siya po mismo ayaw rin niyang i-implement ito. Sabi niya, ‘not this time,’” Go said during the Laging Handa online press briefing on Saturday. 

Go said there is no reason to implement the law now when current community quarantine regimes still prohibit children from going out of their houses.

“Hindi pa napapanahon na i-implement itong batas na ‘to,” he added.

Go further reiterated that the right time will come when it comes to implementing the said law.

“Nagkakahirap-hirap na ang Pilipino ‘wag na natin pahirapan pa. Darating din ang panahon na mai-implement ito dahil batas na po ito,” he said.

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, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on December 2019, was supposed to take effect on Tuesday, February 2, but the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) agreed to defer its implementation following calls from six senators to postpone its enforcement citing the lack of guidelines and the financial strain it may cause to the public.

Had it been implemented, violators would have faced a fine of up to P5,000 and suspension of their driver’s license.

The LTO said it would not apprehend violators for six months or until around August as it will prioritize educating drivers and parents by distributing flyers regarding the mandatory car seat for children. 


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