Child restraints are known to protect children from death or severe road traffic injuries. In Philippines, however, there is no national law yet mandating child restraint use. To provide data and evidence for legislation, a study on availability, affordability, acceptability, and accessibility of child restrains was done.

The study revealed the following:

• There are at least 68 brands of child restraints available through local distribution, online purchase, and delivery. 83% of products inspected had proof of ECE R44 certification.

• Average prices of brand-new seats were PhP 5,755.44 (USD 115) and second-hand PhP 3,535.00 (USD71).

• Among 1,004 eligible survey respondents, 66.8% were aware of child restraints, but only 18.5% reported to have ever used and 9.4% currently using child restraints.

• Most respondents purchased their child restraints from department store, baby shops, and car accessory shops.

• Knowledge on appropriate use of child restraint is quite low. Nonetheless, most respondents agreed that child restraints prevent severe injury.

• TNVS mentioned willingness to promote child restraint use.

Conclusion Child restraints were found to be available, accessible, and perceived to be affordable among Filipino consumers. Knowledge and utilization, however, remain low. Child restraints are acceptable to Filipinos, much so if law mandates their use. Most brand new vehicles are CRS-ready with IsoFix attachments. TNVS’s are generally supportive in promoting child restraint use.

Policy implications Acceptability of child restraint use among Filipinos is supportive for the passage of legislation on child restraint. While the study indicate availability, accessibility, and relative affordability of child restraints, there is a need however to address cost issues and provide means to make child restrain more affordable. Public education and advocacy should be put in place, and legislation pursued to increase child restraint use. Efforts to ensure quality of child restraints available in the market should be pursued.