Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III wants to pursue amendments to the Philippine Lemon Law or Republic Act (RA) 10642, because the current procedure is ‘’too cumbersome".
Pimentel announced his intention to file a bill to strengthen the Lemon Law during the organizational meeting and briefing conducted by the Senate Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Committee chaired by Senator Mark Villar.
During the meeting, Senator Rafael ‘’Ralph’’ Tulfo asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to address complaints from owners of brand-new vehicles against car dealers and manufacturers on the implementation of the Lemon Law.
The Lemon Law, which took effect in 2014 protects owners of brand-new vehicles purchased in the Philippines within a period of 12 months after the date of the original delivery of the brand-new motor vehicle or within the first 20,000 kilometers after delivery of the vehicle, whichever comes first.
It was enacted to provide full protection to the rights of consumers in the sale of motor vehicles against deceptive and unfair business and trade practices.
‘’We already thought of a way to streamline it," said Pimentel, who chaired the Senate panel during the previous 18th Congress.
His proposed amendments would include strictly mandating dealers and/or manufacturers to provide a replacement vehicle to consumers while their purchased vehicles are being repaired, Pimentel said.
Tulfo strongly suggested that dealers should issue a brand-new vehicle to replace the one that is being complained of after it has been brought to the dealer for a number of times.
While the vehicle is being repaired, the dealer should issue a ‘’loaner’’ vehicle to the complainant-buyer because the buyer would be forced to commute or rent another vehicle otherwise.