Sotto laments 'misinterpretation' of child car seat law
"Basa muna, bago kumontra."
Senate President Vicente Sotto III has this say to the critics of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act (Republic Act No. 11229) as he lamented on Monday, February 8, their "misinterpretation" and supposed attempt to "demonize" the law,
Sotto delivered a privilege speech to defend the law which mandates the installation of child restraint system in private vehicles.
The law's implementation has been deferred by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office due to the coronavirus situation and pending the information campaign that they will conduct to educate the public.
President Duterte reportedly supported the suspension of the law's implementation, according to his former aide and now Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.
"If the reason for the postponement is the pandemic, this is alright with me, I support such a move. However, if the reason for the postponement, is not due to the pandemic, but that the law is being misinterpreted, that I cannot support," Sotto said in his speech.
"Many have a very wrong understanding of the law that we passed," he added.
"Walang problema sa postponement, pero huwag niyong i-demonize (There's no problem with suspending it, but don't demonize the law)," he later said.
In his speech, Sotto said the Philippines is lagging behind other countries in implementing road safety measures, particularly the mandatory child car seat law. Even "underdeveloped" nations, he said, have already implemented such policy.
"They're implementation of the child car seat law are doing well...No complaints, they have had it for years. It's been effective. Eh dito sa atin, hindi na naiintindihan 'yong batas, nagrereklamo pa (While here in our country, people do not understand the law and yet they have the gall to complain)," he said.
Social media has also contributed to the misinterpretation, the Senate leader said.
Sotto pointed out that the law, contrary to misconception, applies only to children aged 12 and below and are below 150 centimeters or 59 inches.
It's "common sense", he said, that the child restraint system must be appropriate to the age, height and weight of the children.
"If a child does not fall in this age and height requirement as provided by law, the usual seatbealt will suffice," he said.
Implementing agencies also did not help in educating the people about the law, Sotto and his fellow senators said.
They recalled the viral interview wherein LTO National Capital Region Director Clarance Guinto joked that families should just use bigger vehicles so that tall children in car seats would fit in their cars.
"I understand the penchant of Filipinos for comedy...Yes, the agency has contributed to the obfuscation of the law, instead of enlightening. Akalain mo sumagot nang 'Eh di bumili ka ng mas malaki'. Galing ah, gustoong mag-comedy," said Sotto, a former actor and comedian.
Guinto has apologized for his "inappropriate" remarks last week.