DTI issues 627 helmet ICCs in 2012

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - The Department of Trade and Industry Kalinga issued 627 Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers for motorcycle helmets that qualified out of the 814 brought to the office in compliance to Republic Act 10054.

RA 10054 or the Motorcycle Helmet Law mandates the DTI to facilitate the processing of product standard application and conduct factory/product assessment and ICC application as well as conduct market monitoring and is given the power to take legal action against violators.

Victor Benganio, trade and industry specialist of DTI Kallinga and point person of the Helmet ICC Issuance said the 143 helmets did not pass the quality standard specified by the Bureau of Product Standard (BPS), while the other 44 were already issued with Helmet ICC stickers.

The deadline of free Helmet ICC issuance was last December 28.

Motorists, he said are required to use ICC registered helmets to comply with the implementation of RA 10054 or the Act mandating all motorcycle riders to wear standard protective motorcycle helmets.

Crackdown on motorcycle riders without helmet by the Land Transportation Office started January 1 with the implementation of said Act.

Section 7 of the law’s provisions states that violators are to be fined P1,500 for the first offense; 2nd offense – P3,000; 3rd offense – P5,000; 4th offense – P10,000 and confiscation of license.

Seller and dealers violating the law would also be fined with not less than P10,000 but not more than P20,000, while any person who uses, sells and distributes substandard motorcycle helmets or those which do not bear the PS mark or the ICC certificate would be penalized with a fine of not less than P3,000 for the 1st offense; and P 5,000 for the second offense.(Geraldine G. Dumallig)