ARAYAT -- Children below 18 years old are now prohibited from riding motorcycles even as passengers under a new ordinance enacted in this municipality.

The Sangguniang Bayan here passed Municipal Ordinance No. 10 Series of 2019 which adopted Republic Act 10666 or the Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015.

Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino said the municipal ordinance seeks to strengthen the national law that aims to safeguard children from road crash.

“Our utmost concern is the safety of our children that is why we wanted to protect them from injuries or casualties caused by to road accidents,” he said.

Under the ordinance, riders of motorcycles are not allowed to travel with children onboard regardless of the distance.

Emergency cases when children need immediate medical attention, however, are exempted from the law.

Traffic enforcers in town, through the assistance and guidance of local police force, are tasked to strictly enforce the ordinance.

Violating riders will be fined with P3,000 for the first offense, P5,000 for the second offense, and the P10,000 and suspension of driver's license for one month for the third and succeeding offense.

“We encourage every Arayateños as well as those who pass by our towns to abide by the law and be one with the government in protecting our children,” Alejandrino said.