Councilor proposes dialogue on helmet law

Cebu City Councilor and Transportation and Traffic Management Chairman Richard Osmeña has finally spoken on the issue on the implementation of the Republic Act No. 10054, also known as the “Motorcycle Helmet Act”.

He clarified that he is not against the “Motorcycle Helmet Act” but Land Transportation Office (LTO), City Traffic Operation Management (Citom) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) should sit down first and tackle the issues raised by the motorists or face the risk of being confronted by complaints.

“As Chair of Traffic Management I will definitely support LTO when they strictly implement RA 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 come July 30, 2012. Being an avid biker & the President of Cebu Big Bikers Group (CBBG), safety has always been our main concern but I disagree when they inconvenience the public that they have to go to DTI for the issuance of stickers subject to their standard especially if these helmets were purchased from a non-duly authorized DTI distributor.”

Osmena fears that the public will eventually be asked to pay for these stickers and this is where he will disagree.

“I suggest LTO,Citom & DTI get together before implementing RA 10054 so they can easily identify what is sub-standard or what is not. I think they should not ask every biker to secure stickers. What does DTI expect? For LTO to stop every motorcycle & check if they have the official sticker?” Osmeña added.

Section 5 of RA 10054 states that the helmet shall bear the Philippine Standard mark or Import Commodity Clearance of the Bureau of Product Standards and complies with the standards set by the BPS.

Another provision of the act states that motorcycle drivers and riders who will not wear helmets with ICC marks or PS stickers will be apprehended and will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense, P5,000 for the third offense, and P10,000 and confiscation of driver’s license for the fourth and succeeding violations.

Helmet manufacturers, importers or distributors who will not comply with the law will be fined from P10,000 to P20,000.

Osmeña heads the” South Boys” which consist mostly of barangay officials occasionally doing motorcycle caravan all over the province as a hobby.

“There are many loop holes but I suggest this should be addressed before fully implementing” Osmeña said. /Edison A. Delos Angeles, Correspondent