You’ve probably read stories of grown-ups leaving a child unattended in a parked vehicle. Now, the same act is deemed unlawful, according to House Bill 6570, which stipulates that it is against the law the leave a child eight years old and below unattended.
The said Bill was passed on third and final reading by the House of Representatives. Under the new law, a child eight years of age or under must always be accompanied and/or in the care of a person 18 years old or above. The bill further states that a child must be attended to in circumstances such as:
- When the key of the vehicle is in the cabin
- The motor vehicle’s motor is running
- Circumstances that put the child’s safety at risk
Failure to comply with the law will result in a P5,000 penalty for the first offense, a P10,000 for repeat offenders, and a stiff P50,000 fine and revocation of the offender’s driver’s license should s/he commit the same offense a third time.
To ensure swift implementation and compliance with the new law, the Council of the Welfare of Children, together with the Land Transportation Office, will take care of coming up with the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
