Gatchalian joins other mayors in opposing child car seat law
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian has joined other Metro Manila mayors in opposing the implementation of the child car seat law in their respective cities saying that the measure still needs further scrutiny.
For Gatchalian, there are still "inconsistencies in its application" and in the "draft of its implementing rules."
"The LTO (Land Transportation Office) has to take it to account na iba iba ang sukat ng mga bata (that children have different body sizes). Hindi mo pe-pwedeng lakihan yung kotse mo, parang mali naman ata na sagot 'yun," Gatchalian said over Teleradyo on Friday, Feb. 5.
Gatchalian's remark came after the LTO expressed plans to finally implement the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act which requires the installation of appropriate child car seats in private vehicles for passengers aged 12 and below and shorter than 4'11".
In a recent TeleRadyo interview, LTO Director Clarence Guinto said that families with big children should use bigger cars. He eventually apologized for what he admitted was an inappropriate answer and the confusion it caused.
"Bagamat nagapoligize sila doon, parang it only goes to show na merong inconsistencies sa application at sa pagbalangkas ng implementing rules (Although they apologized, it only goes to show that there are inconsistencies in its application and in drafting the implementing rules)," Gatchalian said.
He said the local government of Valenzuela will still not implement the measure until its implementing rules and regulations are finalized.
"So kami naniniwala kami…na may mga moves nga para pag aralan at ipagpaliban (So we believe that there are already moves being taken to scrutinize it and postpone its implementation)," he said.
Gatchalian is not the only Metro Manila mayor who expressed opposition to the measure.
On Thursday, Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco said he would also block the measure's implementation as he pointed out that "even without car seats, a 4'11" child cannot even fit in a car," what more if there would be car seats.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday said her city would only implement the measure if it has proper guidelines from the national government.
Belmonte also expressed belief at a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum that "maybe, the LTO should not implement first until such time that the people have been heard, pertaining to whether it’s implementable or not."