A lawmaker from Metro Manila called Wednesday for a review of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, following the suspension of its implementation during the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, member of the House Committee on Transportation, asked that the committee chaired by Rep. Edgar Sarmiento of Samar, in the exercise of its oversight function, review the IRR of RA 11229.
“I support the initiative of the chair to have the implementation suspended but I also hope that the opportunity to review the IRR be taken while implementation is delayed,” Biazon said.
“It seems that there are IRR provisions that go beyond the scope and authority of RA 11229 and also add to the confusion and apprehension about the law,” he added.
One example, Biazon said, was the IRR provision on “Fitting Stations,” which is supposedly meant to effectively implement Section 8 of RA 11229, or the Certification Training Program.
“It is my belief that the establishment of fitting stations as contained in the IRR steps beyond the training program intended in Section 8. It is also vague as to the purpose of the fitting stations, with the question raised if motorists would need to have their units evaluated and approved by a fitting station,” he said.
The Muntinlupa lawmaker said the process of accrediting the fitting stations might also give rise to corruption due to the exercise of discretion by accreditors.
“The law does not mention the creation of fitting stations,” he stressed.
Transportation officials have postponed the implementation of RA 11229 during the coronavirus disease pandemic as the Land Transportation Office finalized enforcement protocols for the law.
Prior to the deferment of its implementation, the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act was supposed to have taken effect last Tuesday, February 2.
Sarmiento earlier wrote Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to ask that preparatory measures, including a nationwide education and information campaign, be implemented prior to implementation of the law.
