A Position Paper on the New Car Child Seat in the Philippines

by Dristonne Rhodzze G. Remellete

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) released the details of the New Child Car Seat Law
which requires children ages 12 years and below and has a height of 149 centimeters and below
or 4’11 in feet last January 2021.This Child Car Seat Law is actually a requirement to avoid
injuries or accidents for the children. Other countries implemented their own child car seat law
and strictly followed by the citizens but here in the Philippines, not all have the means to buy a
child car seat or not all Filipinos follow this law since children usually sit on their parent’s lap
especially if their car is small.

Children ages 11 years old below and has the height of 4’11 are required to sit in a child car
seat. This statement is easy. Easy for those motorists who have big cars that have high car
ceilings but what about the motorists who have small cars and low car ceilings. If one middle
class earns P20, 000 per month and if he/she buys a car seat for his/her two ages 9 and 10 years
old children that would cost him/her thousands of peso and what if they only have small car, that
means two car seats are too big for a small car. They need to spend money on car seats instead
on focusing on everyday needs. Spending money for safety is okay but we’re facing a pandemic
right now and this is not our number one priority since kids are not allowed to go out.

Children ages 11 years old below and have a height of 4’11ft are required to sit in a child
car seat. Child car seat law has a requirement of 11 years old and below with a height of 4’11ft.
Should be put in a car seat and this act prevents major accidents and injuries. This act also
depends on the families’ income and means to buy a child car seat. “Children in Rear Seats - No
child twelve (12) years and below of age shall be allowed to sit in a front seat of a motor vehicle
with a running engine or while such child is being transported on any road, street or highway,
unless the child meets the height requirement set forth in Section 4 of this Act and is properly
secured using the regular seat belt in the front seat.” (The Manila Times 2019).

The New Car Child Seat Law in the Philippines requires children ages 11 years old and
below and has the height of 4’11 ft. to seat on child car seat and this law is effective by February
2, 2021. Many of Filipino’s are not agreeing with this law to implement these days because our
Country are suffering from COVID-19 Effects which really made many Filipinos suffer. They
said that instead of making or buying a child car seat, they would just buy food or things that are
more important. This law needs to implement because many children can be harmed while they
are inside the moving vehicle especially if there is no equipment to protect them. In this situation
where children or minors are not yet allowed to leave the house, the government does not need to
focus on this child car seat law first, they should prioritize things that will help the suffering
Filipinos or things that will help to stop the pandemic and to rise again the country's declining
economy, our country and fellow Filipinos needs to recover first.
References

Duterte thumbs down full implementation of child car seat law. (2021, February 6). CNN.

https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/6/duterte-thumbs-down-child-carseat-law-

implementation.html#:~:text=Under%20the%20law%2C%20private%20vehicle,traffic

%2Drelated%20deaths%20and%20injuries.

Rey, A. (2021, February 8). Sotto to critics of child car seat law: “Basa muna bago kumontra.”

Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/senator-sotto-hits-critics-child-car-seat-law

Acosta, P. (2019, September 30). Protection of child passengers. The Manila Times.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/10/01/legal-advice/dearpao/protection-of-child-

passengers/624415