Minors 17-years-old and below will be prohibited to drive any kind of vehicles within the jurisdiction of Brooke’s Point effective on September 1, a municipal government official said.
Sangguniang Bayan member Bernardo Abengoza Jr. said that the ordinance implementing this was already passed in 2017 but was not “totally implemented”.
He said the municipal government will now strictly implement the ordinance to prohibit minors from driving any kind of vehicle on their roads and the national highway to prevent accidents.
“Sa nangyayari sa bayan namin dito sa Brooke’s Point, ‘yong mga kaskaserong batang nagmamaneho, mga walang disiplina, nag-o-overtake sa kanan, sa kung saan-saan, nakakatakot. May mga na-involve ‘yong minors, katunayan meron pa namamatay pero nagkakaaregluhan lang, ayaw ko na masundan ito in the future,” he said Friday.
He said that he pushed for the ordinance to be passed as more cases of motor vehicle accidents involving minors increase in the town, however, no data were recorded as parties involved just settle the cases.
As stated in the ordinance, first-time offenders will be fined P500 and impounding of vehicle; second offense P1,000 and impounding of vehicle; and the fine for the third offense will be P1,500 and impounding of vehicle or imprisonment of not more than one week or both at the discretion of the court.
Abengoza said penalties will be paid by the parent of the minors or the individuals under whose names the vehicles are registered.
“Yong ipinasa kong ordinansa, ang minumultahan ay hindi ‘yong minor kasi we are not supposed to penalized minors, bawal. So sinong mumultahan namin in violation of this ordinance, walang iba kung hindi mga magulang or any person kung saan naka-register ang motor vehicle,” he said.
Abengoza said he is aware that many Brooke’s Point residents will be mad at him because of the ordinance, but he insisted that it is for their own good, particularly the minors.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) is the authorized body to make apprehensions.
