About RA 11229

A World Health Organization report states that:

  • Road crashes kill about 1.35 M people around the world each year.  It is the leading cause of death among 5–29-year-olds.
  • More than 90% of fatalities are from low- and middle-income countries.
  • Road crashes were also found to be one of the 5 top causes of preventable injuries in children (WHO-UNICEF report).
  • The use of child safety seats, or car restraint systems (CRS), reduces infant deaths by approximately 70% while deaths in small children are reduced by 54%.

The Republic Act 11229 or Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act is a law that primarily aims to ensure the safety of children while riding or being transported in any form of motor vehicle.  This law, which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on 22 February 2019, intends to guarantee the safety and welfare of infants and children and prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries through correct and consistent use of child restraint systems or CRS in motor vehicles and provide access to safe, appropriate, quality and affordable CRS. 

RA 11229 requires that children up to 12 years of age or up to 4’ 11” in height:

  1. Should each be buckled up in a child car seat, also called child restraint system (CRS), appropriate for his/her age or height, while in a motor vehicle;
  2. Must not sit in the front seats of the vehicle; and
  3. Must never be left unaccompanied by an adult, even if strapped in a CRS.
With the signing into law of RA 11229 in February 2019, the Philippines now has laws on all 5 key behavioral risk factors for global road safety: speed, drunk driving, helmet use on motorcycles, seat belt use, and the use of child restraints.

Atty. Mark Steven Pastor, Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and 
Infrastructure of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), on RA 11229

RA 11229 covers, for now, ALL private motor vehicles while the DOTr conducts a study to determine or assess the applicability of CRS to certain public utility vehicles (i.e., jeepneys, buses, school buses, taxis, vans, coasters, and other motor vehicles used for public transport) , and make necessary recommendations to Congress.

The corresponding fines and penalties for violators are:
  • Php 1,000 for first offense
  • Php 2,000 for second offense
  • Php 5,000 and one-year suspension of the driver’s license for third offense and succeeding offenses.
For those who use substandard CRS or permits the use of CRS without the PS mark of Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker and certificate:
  • Php 1,000 for first offense
  • Php 3,000 for second offense
  • Php 5,000 and one year suspension of driver's license for one year.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) makes sure that the CRS manufactured or sold in the Philippines follows international standards―the standards set forth in the United Nations Regulation 44 and UN Regulations 129.

The law prohibits the promotion, sale, or use of substandard or expired child car seats. Units that meet the standards of the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards should have a PS Mark or an ICC sticker. Child car seats purchased prior to the effectivity of RA 11229, and thus bear neither PS Mark nor ICC sticker, must first be checked and cleared for use by the LTO.




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