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Las Piñas City Representative Mark A. Villar has re-filed a legislation that aims to strengthen consumer protection, particularly that of buyers of motor vehicles which fail to meet the standards of quality and performance. He recently filed House Bill No. 3199 or “Lemon Law of 2013.”
The bill seeks to adopt the Philippine version of the US lemon law, with provisions appropriate to the country’s setting.
The bill seeks to adopt the Philippine version of the US lemon law, with provisions appropriate to the country’s setting.
“Owning a motor vehicle is a big investment and could take a substantial chunk of one’s savings. But for some unfortunate buyers, such investment amounts to nothing after they acquired a “lemon” or those vehicles that fail to meet the standards of quality and performance,” said Villar.
In the explanatory note of his proposed bill, Villar cited that the lemon law originated in the United States. It was crafted primarily to return to the consumer the full value of his money. Among others, it provides that if a manufacturer or its authorized dealer cannot successfully repair a defective product within a reasonable number of repair attempts, the manufacturer must either promptly replace or repurchase the product.
“If the car has been repaired four or more times for the same defect within the warranty or Lemon Law Rightsperiod, yet the same non-conformity or defect continues to exist or the car is out of service due to repair for a cumulative total of 30 calendar day, the car qualifies as a lemon,” Villar said.
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