by Aerol John Pateña/PNA
The World Health Organization (WHO) has lauded the Philippines for passing a law that will require vehicle owners to use child restraint systems when traveling with children.
The WHO said Republic Act 11229 or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act recently signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte will help prevent injuries that might be sustained by children at road accidents.
“The WHO congratulates the Philippines as President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act or Republic Act 11229. The initiative makes Philippines among the few countries in Asia to pass child restraint legislation,” the organization said in a statement on Wednesday.
“In the Philippines, more than 600 children die from road crashes each year. The legislation is a significant step towards prioritizing the safety and welfare of infants and children on Philippine roads, and preventing traffic-related deaths and injuries,” it added.
The Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act also restricts children from sitting in the front seats of automobiles.
The use of child restraints in vehicles keeps children secured on their seats as they are not thrown against the car interior or ejected in cases of sudden braking or road collisions, the WHO said.
“Evidence has shown that child restraints reduce the likelihood of a fatal crash by approximately 70 percent among infants and between 54-80 percent among young children,” the statement read.
The organization has committed to provide its support to the Philippine government in crafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of RA 11229.
The Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, Metro Manila Development Authority, Council for the Welfare of Children, and other concerned agencies and stakeholders must promulgate the IRR on child restraint systems within six months from the effectivity of the law.
Various government agencies, as well as private agencies and organizations, must conduct a nationwide information campaign on the proper installation, use, and maintenance of the child restraint system.
