■ DISALLOWING CHILDREN ON MOTORCYCLES NOT PRACTICAL, SAYS OSMEÑA

Republic Act (RA) 10666, or the Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015, may have good intentions, but for Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, it might also mean that some students won’t be able to go to school. He said there are areas, particularly in mountain barangays, where the only mode of transportation is the habal-habal or the motorcycle taxi. The mayor has been vocal about his support for habal-habal drivers since they provide a service to the public. Osmeña, though, has no problems with RA 10913, or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act. As for RA. “When you’re driving, you’re maneuvering a deadly weapon so you should at least know where you’re going at all times,” he said.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is worried that some children may no longer able to go to school following the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10666, or Children’s Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015.

Although he recognized the good intention of the law, Osmeña said he is still not in favor of the policy.

“Many children can’t go to school anymore. The intention is there, which (is) the safety of the kids, but I think there is a bigger danger when our children can’t go to school anymore,” he said.

“You tell the child, you can’t go to school anymore. Why? Because it’s dangerous. You can’t ride a motorcycle. It’s dangerous so you don’t have to go to school anymore,” he said.

Osmeña said there are places where the only means of transportation is the motorcycle. He said he is afraid that children, particularly in mountain areas, can’t go to school because of the ban.

The mayor has been vocal about his support for motorcycle drivers, particularly those engaged in habal-habal (motorcycle taxi), since they provide service to the public.

Under RA 10666, “it shall be unlawful for any person to drive a motorcycle with a child on board on public roads where there is heavy volume of vehicles, there is a high density of fast moving vehicles or where a speed limit of more than 50 kilometers per hour (KPH) is imposed.”

A child is exempted and can ride a motorcycle, though, if he/ she can comfortably reach his/ her feet on the standard foot peg of the motorcycle.

The child is also exempted if his/her arms can reach around and grasp the waist of the motorcycle driver.

Meanwhile, Osmeña said he supports the implementation of RA 10913, or the Anti-Distracted Driving Act.

“When you’re driving, you’re maneuvering a deadly weapon so you should at least know where you’re going at all times,” he said.