Helmet impasse

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Motorcycle Helmet Act passed into law in 2010 requires all motorcycle drivers and their passenger to wear helmets at all times, is a good law and has been implemented nationwide except in Dumaguete.

An attempt by law enforcement authorities in Negros Oriental to fully implement the “no helmet, no travel policy” was held in abeyance when public outcry and political intervention succeeded in overriding such plan.

While local officials in other cities or countries take the lead in promoting helmet use among motorists, in Dumaguete it is the opposite.

A Land Transportation Office director for Central Visayas found out that Dumaguete's case is unique. In 2012, a total of19,000 motorcycles or an average of 52 units a day were registered in the city.

In January, our provincial government sought a moratorium on the implementation of the law asking for an exemption.

The governor, city mayor and the city council had made pronouncements against the helmet requirement as mandatory and declared some portions of the law unconstitutional.

We believe that the moratorium and the stipulation in its implementing rules and regulations, six- month information dissemination campaign until July 14, will probably solve the policy impasse.

We just hope that for being unique, LTO will not antagonize the local government officials who are opposed to the helmet law, even if such measures are in the interest of public safety.*