With the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) implementation of the Child Car Seat Law, comedian-actress Pokwang gave her reaction toward the newly-implemented law.
In Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act or RA 11229, children below 12 years of age and not above 4′ 11″ in height should only be allowed inside a private vehicle if they are in a booster seat.
Marietta Subong, also known as Pokwang expressed her displeasure on the government’s priority of “safety” of children inside vehicles amid the pandemic.
On her Twitter account, Pokwang, in a series of tweets, lashed out at the government’s plans. For the comedian, the car seat for children is not a priority at this time. The procurement of vaccines is far more needed.
https://twitter.com/pokwang27/status/1356907169279434762
The law was passed and signed by President Duterte on February 22, 2019, had its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) approved on December 23, 2019.
According to its IRR, since it is a new measure, it needs to enter a transitionary period of one year before it becomes mandatory. That is why RA 11229 took into effect this 2021.
The comedian is more concerned about most Filipinos who do not have jobs due to the pandemic. She begged that the implementation of it–be at a later time instead.
matagal na pala e bakit kailangan isabay pa sa ganitong panahon na halos karamihan wala na trabaho dahil sa pandemia, fi ba pwede ipag paliban muna yan? https://t.co/W8HvWa1wZc
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) February 3, 2021
The law is suited for private vehicles, cannot be applied to public vehicles. Thus, she raised this as one of her concerns and how commuters with children can ride the transportation.
Oo matic naman na sa private vehicle dapat may car seat!!!! matic yon!!! e pano sa public utility vehicle?? pano? Magdadala sila ng sariling car seat? Ngayon pa na bawal nga lumabas ang bata!!!???
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) February 3, 2021
What concerns Pokwang is the setting aside of the working class’s safety. Ordinary Filipinos, whose only means of traveling to work is via public transportation, are at risk because of Covid-19. The comedian also stressed in her next tweet that children are not allowed to go outside. Hence, the implementation of RA 11229 should not be a priority at this point. She even suggested that the government should prioritize the commuters to ensure their safety against the coronavirus.
yung kaligtasan muna ng mga nag co commute sa mga pang publikong sasakyan ang unahin po dahil ang mga bata diba nga bawal po lumabas? unahin muna mga commuter dahil sila ang naghahanap buhay na bawal magkasakit at mahawaan habang nasa byahe. para mas bumaba na ang kaso ng covid. https://t.co/fvsEpLmXgd
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) February 3, 2021
LTO has announced that there will be no-fine for violators. They will only issue initial warnings and give handouts to properly brief motorists. The actual imposition of RA 11229 will take effect in the next three to six months as per LTO.
