I HAVE to congratulate the Bacolod Traffic Administration Office (BTAO).
A week ago, many motorcyclists and their passengers ride piggyback travel around the city without any protective gear.
Now, BTAO launched its “No Crash Helmet” campaign and chalked up a total of 467 apprehensions.
Bravo, BTAO chief Supt. Luisito Acebuche, for enforcing City Ordinance 535, a local law.
For some reason, Congress has mandated the Departments of Trade and Industry (DTI) and of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to enforce the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 (R.A. 10054) that requires motorcyclists to wear safety helmets.
The process took all of one-and-a-half years. On December 26, 2011, the DTI and DOTC issued Joint Administrative Order No. 01 Series of 2011.
JAO-01:2011 spelled out the responsibilities of the two agencies. DTI is to ensure that helmet manufacturers and importers comply with UN safety standards. Too, that retailers sell only items marked “PS” (Philippine Standard) or “ICC” (Import Commodity Clearance). DOTC is to ensure that motorcycle drivers and passengers always wear such riding helmets, regardless of travel distance or terrain.
But the law still could not be enforced—not until the DTI and DOTC conducted an “information and education campaign.”
Well, where are the educational materials? Do we see any tarp posters as the Department of Health has done with its policy on No Smoking? This crash helmet law is almost unknown to riders and passengers alike.
In short, the national helmet law is all bark, but no bite. Now it took a local ordinance to put teeth to a law.
The law can now growl. Violators will be fined P300 for first offense, P500 for the second and P1,000, much less than the penalties on motorcyclists without helmets with a fine of P1,000, P3,000 and P5,000 for the first, second and third offenses; P10,000 and confiscation of driver’s license for succeeding offenses.
After all, an Aspin (Asong Pinoy) bite can just be as painful as that of a Doberman.
Congratulations to BTAO with using this local ordinance to enforce a long-delayed enforcement on a non-nonsense law.
As for DTI and DOTC, please do a better job for enforcing RA 10054. You have been caught napping on the job.
*****
(bqsanc@yahoo.com)
