Squeezed! Lemon Law Hurdles Bicam, Nears Enactment into Law

After years of waiting, a law that protects buyers from defective motor vehicles has finally been passed, Senator Bam Aquino announced.

The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Philippine Lemon Law of 2014 before the body's sine die adjournment Wednesday.

After that, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino's approval.

Earlier, the bicameral conference committee adopted the House version of the Lemon Law, authored by Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar.

"The passage of the Lemon Law is crucial since owning a vehicle is crucial in today's fast-paced life, especially for businessmen and entrepreneurs," said Aquino, sponsor of the consolidated bill filed by Senators Cynthia Villar and JV Ejercito.

"Aside from consumer protection, the Lemon Law will provide consistent standards of quality and performance in the auto industry," he added.

The law calls for the return to consumer the full value of money if the motor vehicle that was bought would not be of standard and quality, 12 months or 20,000 kilometers from date of original delivery. If the consumer remains unsatisfied with the efforts to the repair of the vehicle up to four times, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will exercise exclusive and original jurisdiction over disputes.