Child car seat use in private vehicles now required in PH

MANILA (1 February 2021) - The use of car seats for children 12 years old and below is now required by law in the Philippines and will be enforced starting February 2.  

Republic Act 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, requires that children up to 12 years of age or up to 4’ 11” in height should each be buckled up in a car seat, also called a child restraint system (CRS) while inside a covered private motor vehicle. The car seat used must be suited to the child’s age, height, or weight. 

The law further requires that children do not sit in the front seats of vehicles and are never left unaccompanied by an adult, even if strapped in a child car seat. 

Private motor vehicles include covered vehicles such as cars, SUVs, AUVs, and vans including those for hire. The law does not cover tricycles, jeepneys, and other public utility vehicles. 

Details of the enforcement were discussed in a press conference held online last Friday, January 29. Mr. Bob Valera, deputy director for law enforcement of the Land Transportation Office, assured parents that the early stages of enforcement will only involve warnings and dissemination of information. 

Violators of RA 11229 will be fined Php 1,000 for the first offense, Php 2,000 for the second, and for any succeeding offenses—Php 5,000 and suspension of the driver's license for a year. Valera made clear that penalties will be imposed after enough time—about 3 to 6 months—has passed for parents and motor vehicle owners to prepare for compliance. 

TV host and actress Regine Tolentino sends warm words of support for the enforcement of RA 11229. Regine is a mom of three and is a staunch advocate of child safety. 

To guide parents, Atty. Daphne Marcelo, policy associate at ImagineLaw, discussed the different types of car seats and how these provide optimum protection when appropriate for the size of the child. 

New regulations on product certification of CRS were discussed by Engr. Kim Palmes of DTI’s Bureau of Philippine Standards. RA 11229 also imposes penalties for manufacturers and sellers of substandard car seats. 

More than compliance, taking steps to secure our children is a basic duty, according to Atty. Mark Steven Pastor, assistant secretary for road transport and infrastructure of the Department of Transportation: "To us parents, adopting the policy to our lives is simply an exercise of due diligence of a father's ordinary care for our children."