Press Release
20 June 2014
Refer To Jeeno C. Arellano
(09175409618)
Senate President Franklin M. Drilon today
encouraged automobile manufacturers, dealers, distributors and retailers to maintain
a very high quality control of their products to avoid faulty motor vehicles
getting into the hands of consumers.
The Senate leader said that under the
proposed Philippine Lemon Law, which the Congress passed shortly before it went
on sine die break, legal remedies and protection are made available to
consumers who are sold defective motor vehicles.
“With the impending approval by the President
of the Philippine Lemon Law, all manufacturers, dealers, distributors and
retailers of motor vehicles in the country should now carefully audit and
assess the quality of their products,” said Drilon.
“Because under the proposed law,
they will be liable to pay a minimum amount of P100,000 as damages and they can
be civilly and criminally liable once a defective motor vehicle, or a
lemon vehicle, is sold,” stressed Drilon.
Drilon considered the Lemon Law
as among the landmark legislation passed during the First Regular Session.
“This is the kind of legislation
that our consumers really need these days considering the influx of motor
vehicles in the country,” said Drilon.
“We have been hearing complaints
about defective vehicles and the Congress, despite the pork barrel scam
controversy, was able to listen and act immediately on their concerns. We hope
to enact more measures that would enhance consumer protection,” he added.
Once enacted, Drilon explained
that buyers of brand new vehicles which do not conform to the manufacturer or
distributor’s standards can report any nonconformity within 12 months from the
date of the original delivery or up to 20,000 kilometers of operation after
delivery, whichever comes first.
The proposed measure also
protects the buyer of returned motor vehicles. The manufacturer or dealer is
mandated to disclose in writing to the next purchaser of the same vehicles the
nature of nonconformity which caused the return.
The manufacturer, distributor,
dealer or retailer who violates the prohibition on resale disclosure shall be
liable to pay a minimum amount of P100,000 as damages to the aggrieved party
without prejudice to any civil or criminal liability they and/or the
responsible officer may incur under existing laws, according to the proposed
measure.
According to the measure, the
consumer shall, in writing, notify the manufacturer or dealer the unresolved
complaint, and the consumer’s intention to invoke his or her rights under the
proposed Act.
The consumer shall bring the vehicle to the
manufacturer for a final attempt to address the complaint of the consumer to
his or her satisfaction. Upon receipt of the motor vehicle, the manufacturer or
dealer shall attend to the complaints of the consumer including as may be
necessary, making the repairs and undertaking such actions to make the vehicle
conform to the standards or specifications of the manufacturer, distributor,
authorized dealer or retailer for such vehicle. ###
