LTO-7 head wants motorists w/out helmets apprehended

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Motorcycle drivers in Negros Oriental and in this capital city, who are found not wearing helmets shall still be subject to apprehension by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its deputized law enforcers, but this time based on earlier existing laws, according to the LTO-7 regional director Raul Aguilos.

The order came even as DOTC Sec. Mar Roxas last July 27, issued a memorandum to the LTO on the deferment of enforcement of the Helmet Law (Republic Act 10054) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) failed to keep up with the required ICC stickers for the prescribed standard helmets.

Aguilos also ordered enforcers to issue reminders to motorcycle drivers on the provisions of RA 10054 and for LTO chiefs, other officials and employees to continue with an “aggressive” public information and education campaign in coordination with government agencies and the private sector on the Helmet Law.

In the same order which LTO district office chiefs in Negros Oriental received on Tuesday, Aguilos also directed that “all enforcers are still to apprehend motorcycle drivers on the non-wearing of helmets” for safety reasons, invoking earlier existing laws, such as Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

This Code requires the use of helmets by motorcycle drivers and riders but with no prescribed standard, and has been the basis for the LTO to apprehend violators over the past years, Aguilos explained.

Aguilos lamented that in Dumaguete City, the issue on helmet use has been “politicized” and that local officials must not “expressly oppose existing regulations.” He has repeatedly announced that Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental are not exempted from the national traffic laws, specifically on the wearing of helmets.

LTO-Dumaguete district office chief Roland Ramos had announced following a press conference Tuesday that he has acceded to the request of government officials to defer the enforcement of RA 10054 which was set to take effect August 1. Aguilos however said he was not informed about this arrangement.

LTO district offices in Bais City and Bayawan City are set to conduct checkpoints on August 1 and enforce traffic laws, to include the wearing of helmets.  - THE FREEMAN