Forum on prescribed helmet and visors for motorcycles held
The Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) yesterday gathered stakeholders in Western Visayas for a briefing on the timetable for the implementation of the use of protective helmets and visors for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds.
DTI regional director Dominic Abad recommended that since the description for the prescribed helmet is too technical then consumers should instead look for helmets and visors with Product Standards (PS) for locally manufactured products and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) for those manufactured from outside the country.
BPS Trade and Industry Development Specialist Mario U. Gaudiano said there are three importers who were issued the ICC.
Meantime, Land Transportation Office (LTO) director Gerard Camiña clarified that his office will not apprehend drivers and passengers who are not wearing the prescribed helmet until the approved five-year moratorium for the mandatory use of the prescribed helmet is lifted.
He cited that the moratorium took effect on Sept. 30, 2008 because during the time there was no clear definition of what a standard helmet should look like.
“We will stick to this moratorium of five years. I hope the offices of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the DTI will move as fast as they can in the interest of public safety to come out with a memorandum circular to lift this moratorium,” Camiña said.
He added that to date the helmet compliance of motorcycle drivers in Western Visayas is at 75 percent although the gadget is not the one that is prescribed by the law.
On the other hand, C/Supt. Isagani R. Cuevas of the Police Regional Office 6 (PNA) said the implementation of the law is long overdue because this is one measure that is necessary to road safety.
“If we could implement this, people would tend to discipline themselves,” he stressed.
PNP is the primary support agency of the LTO which is the primary enforcement agency as far as the use of prescribed helmet is concerned.
The forum was attended by some 100 participants composed of DTI regional and provincial standards officers, helmet distributors/dealers and retailers, representatives from the LTO, PNP and local government units and officers of motorcycle clubs in Western Visayas. (PNA)