Child car seats mandatory by next year

MANILA, Philippines — Child car seats are going to be mandatory a year from now, as the Department of Transportation finalizes the implementing rules and regulations  (IRR) for the new law requiring private car owners to use child restraint systems whenever there are kids onboard.

Under the law, children are required to be secured in a car seat appropriate for their size, weight and height whenever they are being transported, or even while the engine is running.

Such car seats must comply with the UN regulations and standards to be determined by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The draft IRR for Republic Act No. 11229, or the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, was just waiting for the signatures of the involved agencies, a transport official said.