IN A SPAN of twenty-three days, before the year ended, over five road crashes resulted in the deaths of seven children aged 4 to 15 years old, across the country. Three of these fatal incidents occurred in Luzon, while one took place in the Visayas and another in Mindanao. In all cases, the children were riding on motorcycles in an unsafe manner, or without seatbelts or child safety seats.
For the whole of 2024, an estimated 26 children were killed in incidents involving speeding, poor road engineering, driver error and recklessness, and driving under the influence (DUI). But in every case, the child fatality was either flung from the passenger vehicle, tricycles or motorcycles—or sustained injuries that led to death, from being thrown from the seat into another part of a closed vehicle like a van or car. In one incident, the child was hurled from a multi-cab out the windshield after the vehicle hit a tree as it careened off a road in Davao.
What has happened to the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 11229, known as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act of 2019, and RA 10666, the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015?
Both laws were designed to protect children in all types of land-based vehicles without restricting their right to travel. They emphasize responsible driving to ensure safe transportation for children.
The enforcement of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act has been lacking since former President Rodrigo Duterte deferred its implementation just days before it was set to take effect on February 21, 2021. This decision was made due to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, while RA 10666 is still being enforced, it is primarily focused on urban centers. It remains common to see children riding with adults on motorcycles without helmets in many provincial areas.
The tragic impact of road crashes
“The death of one child is one too many,” stated Dr. Nhan Tran, Head of Safety and Mobility at the World Health Organization (WHO), during the ASEAN+China Road Safety Capacity Building Workshop held from December 11 to 13 in Guangzhou, China. Child safety was highlighted as one of the top three priority topics at this conference.
According to the latest WHO Global Road Safety report, approximately 1.21 million people worldwide died in road crashes, including nearly 12,000 Filipinos. Data from various sources—including the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Transportation (DoTr), and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)—indicate that between 1 percent and 2 percent of these fatalities involve individuals aged 18 and below.
Current statistics and concerns
A year-end report from the DoH indicated that from December 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025, there were 529 recorded road crash incidents resulting in six deaths. While the report did not specify whether any victims were children, it noted that this figure represents a 31 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
“Unfortunately, child safety is not prioritized by parents across all social classes,” remarked Sharim Tarim, a road safety advocate from the Global Road Safety Forum.
“This attitude appears to be a default among motor vehicle users in ASEAN countries. Generally, we observe either a lack of laws or insufficient enforcement when laws do exist.”
“Legal certainty is crucial for effective enforcement,” added Atty. Melvin Calimag, a road safety technology advocate. “Laws must be clear, stable, and applied fairly—free from conditionality or informal settlements. In the Philippines, many road rules are subject to conditions that diminish their impact.”
The need for action on child safety
The deferment of the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act raises serious concerns about public awareness and compliance. Many families may not prioritize purchasing appropriate car seats or understanding their proper use without effective enforcement mechanisms or educational campaigns.
The automotive industry has responded by incorporating child anchoring points into nearly all passenger vehicles—including entry-level models—ranging from child-seat-friendly seatbelts to ISOFIX anchoring standards.
Prior to its deferred implementation, initiatives from organizations like the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), WHO Global Road Safety Program, and Vera Files’ Chit Estrella Road Safety Program and campaigns from ImagineLaw, aimed to raise awareness about using car seats in private vehicles. These efforts complemented information campaigns by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in collaboration with local government agencies.
The announcement of the deferment caused confusion; then Deputy House Speaker Rufus Rodriguez noted that such a delay would require new legislation from Congress rather than merely a resolution. This situation has left many parents uncertain about their responsibilities regarding child safety in vehicles.
As to the re-implementation of the law, “it’s the prerogative of the executive department not to enforce it. It’s also the executive branch that will craft the IRR. But I don’t think, Congress needs to intervene to make it active again,” Calimag explained.
A path forward for child safety
Advocacy groups stress that this law is essential for protecting vulnerable road users—children—and significantly reducing road traffic injuries. As part of broader efforts to improve road safety, the Philippine government has introduced initiatives like the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023-2028, aiming to reduce road traffic deaths by at least 35 percent by 2028.
As well as the management of children passengers in cars and buses, through effective legislation and enforcement, achieving PRSAP goals will prove challenging if not attainable. These tragic incidents in the middle of the Christmas holiday, serve as a sobering reminder that every effort must be made to protect children, who are the most valuable, but also the most vulnerable of road users.