An attempt by  the police  in Negros Oriental to implement the “no helmet, no travel policy”  beginning next week, was met with  public outcry,  and political intervention succeeded in overriding the  plan.

The  announcements of Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza, provincial director of the Philippine National Police  and Roland Ramos, chief of the Land Transportation Office-Dumaguete District Office, to enforce the law on the  wearing of helmets by motorcycle drivers and their riders were overturned when Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo on Thursday sought  a “moratorium”.

Despite  opposition in Dumaguete City and other parts of Negros Oriental to the implementation of  the  helmet law  officials of the LTO  in Region 7, based in Cebu City,  insist that it  cannot  be enforced yet in the absence of its Implementing Rules and Regulations,  and the prescribed standard protective helmet.

The “moratorium”,  that  the PNP and LTO-Dumaguete acceded to as  request of the governor, was set from January 19 to allow  local officials to review RA 10054.

Aguilos said  there is no such thing as granting a “moratorium” where an existing national law is concerned.

Aguilos has also warned that LTO-deputized enforcers of traffic laws, when making arrests for violation of the prescribed use of helmets, must not invoke RA 10054 and instead  invoke RA 4136 and DOTC Order No. 2008-039.

The LTO will continue with its anti-traffic violations campaign,  including the use of protective head gear.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental is the LTO’s biggest challenge  to the  helmet law as the provinces of Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor have already  started  the call  the use of helmets by motorcycle drivers and their riders.*JFP

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