CEBU, Philippines - Starting today it is now prohibited for small children to ride on motorcycles as the law banning it takes effect across the country.
Two years after it was signed into law by then president Benigno Aquino III, the Republic Act 10666 otherwise known as Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015 will be implemented by the Department of Transportation.
Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law, only children whose feet can reach the foot peg, could wrap their arms around the driver’s waist, and wears protective gear such as a helmet may be allowed to ride on a motorcycle with an adult.
The law covers all public roads, including roads where there is a heavy volume of vehicles, where there is a high-density of fast-moving vehicles, or where the speed limit is more than 60 kilometers per hour.
An exception applies only to cases where a child to be transported requires immediate medical attention.
Land Transportation Office-7 Director Alita Pulga said that parents should read and strictly observe the provisions of the law to prevent accident and avoid apprehension. Pulga said the penalty is big enough to low income workers.
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The law provides P3,000 penalty for the first offense; P5,000 for the second; and P10,000 for the third plus suspension of the driver’s license for one month. Beyond the third offense, violators will have their licenses revoked.
DOTr believes that this proactive and preventive approach will ensure the safety of the passengers, especially children.
It is a common sight in Cebu that small children, even infants, are transported on motorcycles. Pulga reminded the public that only two are allowed to ride on a motorcycle—driver and one back rider. The new law has been branded by many as anti-poor.
Joy Antolihao, a housewife from Canduman, Mandaue City, said she is opposed to the implementation of the new law because motorcycles are easier to maneuver especially in heavy traffic.
“Dili ko ganahan sa bag-ong balaod ron kay gamit kaayo ang motor. If magmotor man gud mas dali ka kalusot sa traffic. Ang importante lang jud, sakto sa gear ang driver og ang bata,” Antolihao said.
Richard Romeo, an elementary teacher and father of four, empathized with the people whose only means of transportation is a motorcycle, especially those who live far from the schools and workplaces.
“Para sa ako maayo ang tinguha anang balaoda pero mag unsa man ang mga tawo nga mao ra gyud intawn ang paagi sa pagsakay labi na sa mga lugar layo sa ilang gitrabahoan o eskwelahan? Mamahimo tingali kana kung ang batang sakay kompleto sa panagang sa pagsakay sama sa helmet. Inubanan sa pag amping sa pagdrive sa usa ka tino ug drug-free nga driver,” he said.
Antolihao and Romeo both send their children, ages 3-8, to school every day using motorcycle.
But Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said it is not anti-poor because its objective is only to ensure road safety.
The governor said he understands the situation of the poor people, who are just forced to let their children ride the motorcycles even if they know that it is very risky, because of the absence of public utility vehicles in their places.
“Ang uban wa’y helmet. Ang inahan nga back ride gani magdala pa og baby padung simbahan para pabunyagan. Maluoy pud ta ba,” he said.
But he said the law is among the efforts of the government to curb the incidence of road accidents involving children.
“I agree. We should be strict on that,” he said.
Davide said it is now high time to strictly implement the Republic Act 10054 or Helmet Law.
“Helmet law should be enforced,” he said.
Authorities earlier said RA 10054 is difficult to implement as some motorists do not use helmets or use it but only if there are authorities in sight.
Any person caught driving a motorcycle without a crash helmet will be fined P1,778 based on the law.
In fact, Cebu City has an existing ordinance that prohibits children below seven years old from riding on motorcycles, but has not also been strictly implemented.
Davide said even the towns and component cities in Cebu have a “very lax traffic rules and we have to face the reality that the towns have no traffic enforcers.”
The World Health Organization’s road safety report showed that 1.25 million people have died globally due to road accidents, with motorcyclists comprising 23 percent of deaths.
Without action, WHO said road traffic crashes are predicted to rise to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030.
WHO said wearing a motorcycle helmet correctly can reduce the risk of death by almost 40 percent and the risk of severe injury by over 70 percent.
In a 2015 study, Thinking Machines (TM), a Taguig City-based research team, said motorcycle riders are the most vulnerable to accidents, particularly when they do not wear protective gear.
There would be an 80 percent chance of instant death for victims if a truck and bicycle were involved in an accident, it added.
TM said motorcycle crashes were over five times more likely to result in death or injury compared with other road accidents. It also said statistics showed that bicycle riders have a 66.8 percent chance of figuring in an accident.
— with Chiara Lei L. Qu
