'Save your life by wearing the prescribed helmet'
“The use of the prescribed helmet can save your life.”
This was the repeat reminder of Land Transportation Office 6 Regional Director Gerard Camiña on motorcycle drivers, who continue to wear plastic helmets or none at all.
This reminder was made during the Forum on Helmets and Visors held at the Grand Hotel last June 29, 2009. It was an activity by the Bureau of Product Standards, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police and the LTO.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has finally come out with the prescribed helmet for the bikers' use and that dealers can sell. However, there is a danger that bikers will continue to wear plastic helmets because of a five-year moratorium made last year after motorists complained about the use of the prescribed helmet because at that time, the DTI has yet to define what a “prescribed helmet” should be.
To recall, the Land Transportation Office issued Memorandum Order AHS-2008-01 or The Revised Rules and Regulations for the Use and Operations of Motorcycles on Highways which states,”There shall be a five-year moratorium imposed on the mandatory use of prescribed standards helmet effective September 30, 2008 until 2013. Thus, motorcycle drivers and passengers can use any kind of helmet until 2013.
Camiña said that unless there's a memorandum circular that lifts the moratorium is made, they cannot apprehend drivers who are wearing plastic helmets. Thus, he encouraged the bikers to voluntarily junk their plastic helmets, and enjoy the life-saving benefit provided by wearing the prescribed one.
“These plastic helmets that they insist on wearing will not protect them,” said Camiña, adding that many accidents that were minor, has resulted to fatalities due to the use of the wrong helmet or none at all.
Dominic Abad, regional director of the DTI, said that the prescribed helmet has the PS or ICC marks. Locally-made products should bear the PS or Philippine Standard mark while the imported ones should have the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark. These licenses are issues by the DTI's Bureau of Product Standards when their product successfully pass the requirements of a Philippine National Standard (PNS). Manufacturers and importers affix the PS and ICC marks on their products to guide consumers.