DOTC-Caraga intensifies monitoring compliance
with Helmet Act
By Robert E. Roperos
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA) – The Department of
Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has intensified monitoring of
motorcycle riders' compliance with helmet standards required by Republic Act
10054, otherwise known as the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.
There has yet been no reported of violation in
the entire region, Roman Jumawan, Caraga DOTC assistant director, said.
However, he said that the agency will
consolidate reports in the region every week. “This way, we could be able to
assess the number of violators, if any,” Jumawan said.
The official further said the Land
Transportation and Traffic Management Office (LTTMO) will also run after those
motorists who are not wearing helmets, and those who are not using standard
helmets. “These helmets are those with import commodity clearance (ICC)
stickers,” Dir. Jumawan added.
Furthermore, Dir. Jumawan said motorists need
not bring the certificates issued by the store where they bought the helmets so
long as the helmet has an ICC sticker.
The Motorcycle Helmet Act requires motorists to
wear either a half-faced helmet with clear visor or a full-faced helmet with a
clear visor to ensure riders' protection.
With the mandatory use of motorcycle helmets,
all motorcycle riders, including drivers and back riders, shall at all times
wear standard protective motorcycle helmets while driving, whether long or
short drives, in any type of road and highway.
Standard protective motorcycle helmets are
appropriate types of helmets for motorcycle riders that comply with the
specifications issued by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
However, the law stipulated that drivers of
tricycles shall be exempted from complying with the mandatory wearing of
motorcycle helmets as provided in this Act.
A new motorcycle helmet which bears the
Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) of the Bureau
of Product Standards (BPS) and complies with the standards set by the BPS shall
be made available by every seller and/or dealer every time a new motorcycle
unit is purchased and which the purchaser may buy at bis option. Failure to
comply with the requirements provided under this section shall constitute a
violation of this Act.
The DTI, through the BPS, is mandated to utilize
the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocols with regard
to the standards that will be applicable to the approval or disapproval of
motorcycle helmets that will be sold in the country.
Any person caught not wearing the standard
protective motorcycle helmet in violation of this Act shall be punished with a
fine of Php1,500.00 for the first offense; Php3,000.00 for the second offense;
Php5,000.00 for the third offense; and Php10,000.00 plus confiscation of the
driver's license for the fourth and succeeding offenses.
Any seller and/or dealer who violates Section 5
of this Act shall be punished with a fine of not less than P10,000 but not more
than P20,000.
Any person who uses, sells and distributes
substandard motorcycle helmets or those which do not bear the PS mark or the
ICC certificate shall be punished with a fine of not less than P3,000 for the
first offense; and P5,000 for the second offense, without prejudice to other
penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of the
Philippines".
Tampering, alteration, forgery and imitation of
the PS mark and the ICC certificates in the helmets shall be punished with a
fine of not less than P10,000 but not more than P20,000, without prejudice to
other penalties imposed in Republic Act No. 7394 or the "Consumer Act of
the Philippines".
With this, Jumawan reminded the motoring public
to adhere this law to avoid penalties and other consequences provided for in
the law. (RER/PIA-Caraga)
BCG receives computer sets from foreign orgs
By Maria Luisa Dianah Z. Generalao
BUTUAN CITY, Jan 8 (PIA) -- Faster office work
and transactions can now be anticipated as 80 Samsung desktop computer sets
were turned over to the local government unit of Butuan City from Lohas
Ventures International, Inc. and Korea Non-Destructive Testing Co., Ltd. at the
City Mayor’s Office.
Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante Jr. received the
donated computer sets from Weseng Pak, Lohas Ventures International, Inc.
chairman and chief executive Officer and Euy Jong Lee, Korea Non-Destructive
Testing Co., Ltd. president and chief executive officer.
With Mayor Amante was Sangguniang Panlungsod
Member Angelo S. Calo, who was responsible for the facilitation of the whole
donation process prior to its arrival.
These desktop computers are now being readied
for use in the different city government offices. (NCLM/CMO/PIO/PIA-Caraga)
Debaters set eyes on 5th
CPDC - Law Fortun Cup
By Junesther
Jean S. Iway and Eldie N. David
BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA) -- College and high
school debaters from all over Caraga region have set their sights on the
forthcoming 5th Caraga Parliamentary Debate Championship – Law Fortun Cup on
January 18-20, 2013 at Saint Joseph Institute of Technology, this city.
The debate competition which is on its 5th year promises to be more competitive as there will be two categories that will be up for grabs (college and high school). This is the second year that the competition offers the prestigious Law Fortun Cup as the coveted prize.
This will be the biggest debate clash of the different institutions, which will be sending their most persuasive and eloquent students, to discuss, deliberate and argue the various global, national, and local contemporary issues. Part of the theme of the said competition will be in observance of the launching of the Watershed Code also slated within the month.
In line with this, resolutions that will be tackled during the championship round will be in protecting the environment. The said debate will emphasize environmental issues.
Vice Mayor Law Fortun, the author of Butuan City’s Watershed Code and for which the cup is named, said competition is an important tool in activism, whether it be social, economic, political or just about anything. “It teaches us to think critically on issues which need paramount attention and most of all it helps build a strong and creative mind. As we have supported this in the past, we have committed to continue in supporting it this year as this will be a very good opportunity for the students to develop their wit and eloquence,” Fortun.
Through this kind of event, which follows the Asian Parliamentary debate format, students are given an opportunity to express their ideas on a particular subject. Exposed and involve them in the resolution of sensitive and significant issues of our time. The participants of this event will serve as the beckon to spread awareness and public participation in the youth sector. (NCLM/LGU-BC/VMO/PIA-Caraga)
Cebuano news: LPA posibleng magdala og pagbaha
sa Mindanao
Ni Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Enero 8 (PIA) -- Usa ka
low-pressure area ang nasigpatan sa Mindanao paingon duol sa Davao area sayong
buntag karong adlawa, matud ni PAGASA forecaster Glaiza Escollar ang maong LPA
posibleng mokusog ug magdala’g mga pag-ulan nga naglihok sa gikusgon nga 5
ngadto 7 kph.
Sumala sa taho sa PAGASA alas 4:00 sa buntag
karong adlawa ang LPA gibana-banang nahimutang 340 km habagatang sidlakan
(southeast) sa Davao City, nahisulod sa Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)
nga naka-apekto sa Mindanao.
Sa 5:00 sa buntag nga bulletin niini, ang PAGASA
miingon usab nga aminahang sidlakan (Northeast Monsoon) nga pag-ulan ang
nakaapekto karon sa Northern Luzon.
Matud pa niini, nga ang Mindanao makasinati ug
mapanganuron nga kalangitan uban ang kasarangan ngadto sa makusog nga ulan ug mga
panalugdog nga moresulta sa mga pagbaha ug mga pagdahili sa yuta.
Ang Bicol Region ug eastern Visayas makasinati
usab og mapanganuron nga kalangitan uban ang mahinay ngadto sa kasarangan nga
mga pag-ulan ug panalugdog.
Ang bahin sa Cagayan Valley ug mga probinsya sa
Aurora ug Quezon adunay mapanganuron nga kalangitan uban ang mahinay nga ulan
samtang ang Metro Manila ug uban pang bahin sa nasod makasinati og medyo
mapanganuron nga kalangitan ug panagsa nga mga pag-ulan ug panalugdog.
Ug kasarangan ngadto sa makusog nga huyop sa
hangin gikan sa aminahang sidlakan (northeast) ang masinati sa tanang bahin sa
nasod ug ang kadagatan kasarangan ngadto sa baluron.
Samtang gipahimangnoan usab sa PAGASA ang mga
sakyanan pangisda ug uban pang gagmay nga mga sakyanan sa dagat nga dili una
mobiyahe samtang ang mga dagkong sakyanan gi-alerto usab batok sa dagkong mga
balud, dala sa makusog nga hangin uban ang makusog nga pag-ulan nga nakaapekto
sa kadagatan sa Northern Luzon ug eastern seaboard sa Luzon ug eastern Visayas.
(RER/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
Cebuano news: Malakangyang miingon nga ang
administrasyon sa Aquino mo-estudyo sa proposisyon alang sa “total gun ban”
Ni Nida Grace B. Tranquilan
SURIGAO DEL SUR, Enero 8 (PIA) -- Ang Aquino
administtrastyon mo-estudyo sa proposisyon alang sa “total gun ban” human sa
kamatayon sa pito ka tuig nga batang babaye kinsa naigo sa saag nga bala didto
sa Caloocan City ug ang sugoksugok nga pagpamusil sa Kawit, Cavite, ang opisyal
sa Palasyo miingon sa adlawng kagahapon, Lunes.
Si Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte miisyu ug pamahayag atol sa regular nga press briefing didto sa
malakanyang dungan sa panawagan alang sa mapig-oton nga pagkontrolar sa mga
pusil ug ang “total gun ban”.
Ang Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP) miingon nga ang gobyerno gikinahanglan nga mokonsiderar sa
proposisyo gikan sa nagkadaiyang grupo aron mapasiguro ang kahilwasan sa
publiko.
“Daghan ang nagkadaiyang proposisyon tali sa
mapig-oton nga pagkontrolar sa pusil ngadto sa proposisyon sa total gun ban.
So, kana pagahisgutan uban ang Presidente,” ("Ang dami pong iba’t ibang
proposal between stricter gun control to proposals for a total gun ban. So that
has to be discussed with the President,") sulti ni Valte.
Si Senador Gregorio Honasan miingon niadtong
Sabado nga ang kansang committee on public order and dangerous drugs motugon sa
pag-ripaaso sa eksistidong gun laws, mo-konsolidar sa gisaysay nga pending nga
balaodnon ug mopahigayon ug public hearings sa gun controls kon sa pagbalik sa
session karon karon Enero 21.
Sa iyahang kabahin, si Senator Panfilo Lacson
mipahayag sa gobyerno sa pagsuspende sa tanang pagpirmeso sa pagdala sa haya ni
Ronald Bae’s shooting spree.
"Again, it depends on what the contents of
that law will be. When you say comprehensive firearms law, that would involve
everything from the importation—rules for importation, rules for procurement,
for requirements, etcetera. So we will have to see what is in that proposal for
a comprehensive firearms law," matud ni Valte
Si Bae, ang gialegar nga drug addict, milakaw ug
mihimo sa sugoksugok nga pagpamusil didto sa Kawit Cavite niadtong Biyernes sa
buntag. Siya miatake sa iyahang silingan dala ang kalibre .45 nga pistola, nga
mipatay sa walo ka katawhan ug midagmal sa laing nuybe ka tao.
Sa laing bahin, si Stephanie Nicole Ella usab
nga nagtan-aw lamang sa fireworks display gawas sa ilahang paimalay sa Malaria
District, Caloocan City naigo ug saag nga bala sa iyahang ulo atol sa pagsaulog
sa New Year. Si Ella namatay didto sa East Avenue Medical Center sa Quezon City
Miyerkules sa hapon. (RER/NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)