Caloocan bans kids from riding motorbikes

MANILA, Philippines –  The Caloocan City government, in an effort to curb the incidence of road accidents involving children, banned motorcycle drivers from having small children as back riders effective yesterday.

Mayor Enrico Echiverri said City Ordinance 0468-A prohibits any motorcycle driver from having children seven years old and below as “passengers… or back riders any time on any street” in the city.

He warned that violators will be arrested and fined P1,000. They will also be prevented from traveling unless the child gets down from the motorcycle.

Echiverri said the city government came out with the measure after Safe Kids Philippines, a non-government organization working to prevent unintentional child injuries, noted in its recent study that at least 35,000 Filipino children fall victim to road accidents each year. He said some of the victims are either disabled or killed.

“This figure spurred the city council to immediately pass an ordinance that aims to stop the number of minor victims in road accidents from mounting further,” the mayor said.

Echiverri also reminded motorcycle riders to follow the mandatory helmet law, which is being strictly enforced in the city based on the rules and regulations provided by the Land Transportation Office and the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Motorcycles are the preferred mode of transportation in Caloocan City, officials said.