DTI Siquijor warns riders, sellers to buy, sell only helmets with PS or ICC markIssuance of helmet stickers ends

By Rizalie A. Calibo

SIQUIJOR, Jan. 5 (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Siquijor Provincial Office has issued a warning to motorcycle drivers, riders, dealers, sellers or retailers who use, produce or sell substandard helmets not bearing the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Imported Commodity Clearance (ICC) seal that they will be penalized under Republic Act 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Act. 

With the the strict enforcement of the law starting January 1 this year, DTI-Siquijor Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio issued the warning as she noted the laxity of some drivers who failed to secure DTI stickers on or before the deadline and only flocked to their office beyond the deadline date and when they would no longer issue the stickers. 

Virtucio said motorcycle drivers only became serious in getting stickers when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it would apprehend violators of the Helmet Law. 

She said they never failed to inform the drivers of the deadline. The information drive started in June last year as the original schedule of the law's full implementation was in August which was later extended to November and December to give enough time for drivers to secure the ICC stickers; thus the full implementation of RA 10054 was reset to January 2013, according to Virtucio. 

The original schedule in August was deferred in line with the DTI’s request to give them more time to inspect all the helmets that are coming into the country. 

DTI wanted to ensure that all the helmets bear the ICC seal issued by the Bureau of Products Standard. 

“We want to ensure the orderly implementation of the Helmet Law with the safety of the riding public as our foremost objective,” Secretary Mar Roxas has said. Roxas used to be the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications before taking the helm of the Department of Interior and Local Governments. 

With the postponement, enforcers are instructed to issue reminders to motorcycle drivers of the issue starting August 1 until the end of the year. 

During the period covered, no punitive measures such as the issuance of citation tickets were implemented . But starting January 1, 2013, motorcycle drivers caught without a protective helmet bearing the ICC seal will be issued citation tickets and penalized as stated by law. 

The IRR of the Helmet Law was stipulated in the joint administrative order (JAO) crafted by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and DTI, requiring motorcycle drivers and riders to use protective motorcycle helmets with PS and ICC seals. 

The JAO also penalizes motorcycle dealers who don’t comply with DTI to produce or sell sub-standard helmets and not bearing the Philippine Standard mark or ICC seal, including those who tamper and forge the PS or ICC marks. 

Virtucio advised drivers to buy only the standardized helmets with the PS or ICC marks, and told dealers never to violate the law. “First offense is P25,000 for the dealers,” she said as she encouraged buyers to return or never accept helmets without the prescribed marks. 

“Ug dili nila dawaton, isumbong dayon sa DTI (If they won’’t accept, report immediately to the DTI)," she said. 

She also explained that that there are two kinds of stickers, the ones dated or issued in 2010 and the new ones that do not look the same but are both valid. 

She made the clarifications following reports of apprehensions of some drivers because of difference in appearance of the stickers as she added that enforcers should consider. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) of Larena town said they have set checkpoints since January 1 but some violators continue to seek their consideration. 

“The law has to be enforced although initially we give consideration to those using helmets without stickers as long as they are wearing helmets,” PO2 Jackie Louie Maghanoy Rodrigues, desk officer of Larena police station said in an interview with the PIA here. 

“We just explain to them that the law is meant to protect them,” he said. (FCR/RACalibo/PIA-Siquijor)