RA 11229, officially known as the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, was signed into law in the Philippines to mandate the use of Child Restraint Systems (CRS)—commonly referred to as child car seats—for children aged 12 and below riding in private vehicles. However, its full enforcement was deferred shortly after implementation due to several concerns:

Reasons for Deferral

• Public backlash and confusion: Many motorists and parents expressed concern over unclear guidelines, lack of affordable CRS options, and enforcement protocols.
• Pandemic considerations: At the time of rollout in early 2021, children under 15 were restricted from going out due to COVID-19, making enforcement impractical.
• Incomplete regulations: The Land Transportation Office (LTO) had not finalized standards for CRS accreditation, inspection, and exemptions (e.g., height-based exemptions for children over 150 cm).

Status and Implementation

• No penalties initially: The LTO and Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced a grace period of 3 to 6 months for public education before imposing fines.
• Suspension by Malacañang: President Duterte later suspended the law’s implementation indefinitely to allow time for clearer rules and public readiness.
• Penalties under the law (once enforced):
  • ₱1,000 for first offense
  • ₱2,000 for second offense
  • ₱5,000 and license suspension for third offense

Key Provisions of RA 11229

• Mandatory use of CRS for children under 12 unless they are at least 150 cm (4’11”) tall
• CRS must meet LTO safety standards
• Prohibition of substandard or expired CRS
• Applies only to private vehicles, not public utility vehicles