DTI refunds motorcycle owners

CEBU, Philippines - Beginning yesterday, the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office have started to refund motorcycle owners of the P101.25 which they paid for the processing and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers required in connection with the implementation of the Helmet Law.

 DTI-Cebu Provincial Office director Nelia Navarro said motorcycle riders can claim their refund at the DTI regional office.

This, after the DTI head office recently issued a memorandum waiving the payment of P100.00 for the processing fee and P1.25 for the ICC stickers.

 As of yesterday, a total of 8,845 ICC stickers were already issued for Cebu alone.

 “Nagsugod na mi ug refund starting this morning, (We started giving refunds staring this morning.)” Navarro said as she explained that motorycle riders have to show their official receipts.

Land Transportation Office-7 records reveal that there are a total of 321,560 motorcycles registered in Central Visayas and for the first semester of this year, a total of 197,078 motorcycles have already registered in the region.

 Navarro added that to avoid controversies, they are not recommending any helmet dealers.

 “Dili mi mo recommend kung asa pwede makapalit ug branded helmets kay lisud na mapasanginlan niya mi ug nangumisyon mi. Nakahibalo na ang mga motorcycle riders kung asa na paliton, (We do not recommend particular stores where they could buy branded helmets because we don’t want to be accused of earning commissions. Motorcycle riders already know where to buy.)”she said.

 DTI has issued a partial list of 55 brands of helmet with the ICC marks.

 These brands are 2, AGV, Ainon, AM, Arai, Avex, Ben-2, Bio/H, Caberg, Carting, GDR, GPX, HF, HJC, HNJ, Hongying Bio, HPH, Index, Kim, KH, KBC, KOR, Leva, LS2, MRC, NEXX, Nolan, Penguin, Posh, Powercycle, SA -070, Shoei, Snell, SOL, Space Crown, Spyder, ST, Studss, Sun, Tanked, Transcycle, VCAN, Voltz, Weilang, Wheiz Gear, Xpot, Xsol, Yamaha, Yema, Zebra, Zeus, Levin, STM and Aerox-(DOT).

 LTO is set to implement the prescribed standard headgear with the impending full implementation of the mandatory Helmet Law under Republic Act 10054 beginning August 1, this year.

 Under the law, motorcycle drivers and their passengers are now strictly required to wear the standard protective gears which the DTI said should bear the ICC or the PS (Philippine Standards) mark. -

Meanwhile, LTO-7 Director Raul Aguilos said local government units may request for the banning of full-faced motorcycle helmets in their respective jurisdictions for security reasons. Aguilos said it is provided by the Joint Administrative Order of the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Aguilos and DTI-7 Director Asteria Caberte were invited by the members of the Cebu Provincial Board during the regular session yesterday but Caberte failed to attend.

PB Member Sun Shimura raised his concern about reports of criminal elements using full-face helmets to cover their identities.

“They (LGUs) can recommend for the banning of full-face helmets for security reasons,” Aguilos said.

Aguilos mentioned the three kinds of motorcycle helmets as full-face, half-face and half-head.

“Di mandatory ang full face, for as long as naay standard protective helmet for motorcycles,(Full-face helmets are not mandatory for as long as there are standard protective helmets for motorcycles.)” he said.

Aguilos said that it is up to the DTI through its Bureau of Product Standards to determine the quality of the helmet.

“It depends upon the DTI to approve or not,” he said.

Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem confirmed that the provision is clearly pointed out in the joint Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10054, also known as the Motorcycle Helmet Act.

Citom earlier questioned the P101.25 sticker fees imposed by DTI although it was already stopped.

“So these two developments are good but our ultimate goal is really to have the implementation of RA 10054 until other questions and concerns are answered,” said Jakosalem in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said that the banning of full-face relies solely on the discretion of the local government units. “The bottom line here is the safety of the greater majority,” Comendador told The FREEMAN in a phone interview.

Comendador said that the Philippine National Police, as a national agency, enforces what is in the law in its most practical terms.

“Based on years of experience, in the end it’s the policemen on the streets who enforce the law and we know better than anybody else when we decide to cite violators,” he said.

He added they will enforce the law based on its intent.  (FREEMAN)