" '. 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 10 () 8 
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'13 
JUL 23 A 9 :49 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Consumer welfare is a primary concern in commerce, as protection of the 
consuming public raises quality standards of products and services, naturally 
boosting the economy. 
There are few properties that are as important, both symbolically and in 
practical application, as a motor vehicle. For an average family, the purchase of 
such requires large savings made possible by blood, sweat and tears exhausted 
in one's occupation. Needless to say, there must be a certain level of guarantee 
in the vehicle's investment. The warranties available for vehicles do not allow the 
return of a defective vehicle with recurring problems, but only continued repairs, 
that is, until the warranty period expires. 
Buyers are at risk of being left with a hunk of junk, or a "lemon," while car 
manufacturers and dealers find business elsewhere, perhaps from another 
unwitting victim. If only these automakers and dealers would willingly guarantee a 
return of a defective vehicle within a specified time. This would make perfect 
business sense, as buyers would be less hesitant to spend their hard-earned 
money on a product that will break down prematurely. But this is not the reality. 
As long as the auto companies are able to make their millions without guarantees 
to customers, they will continue to do so. This is what this bill hopes to rectify, in 
the pursuit of fair business practice. 
This measure proposes a one (1) year period in which buyers of brand-
new vehicles can avail of the provisions of this "Lemon Law," and also allowing 
up to four repairs on the same defect before a replacement or refund of the 
vehicle can be claimed. This would ensure that the investment on a vehicle is 
money well-spent. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUL 23 1\9 :49 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 0 6 8 
REf .' 'DIW:-F-
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE PURCHASE OF 
BRAND NEW MOTOR VEHICLES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Lemon Law of 
2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Po/icy.- It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to promote full protection to the rights of consumers in the sale of motor 
vehicles against sales and trade practices which are deceptive, unfair or 
otherwise inimical to the consumers and the public interest. 
The State recognizes that a motor vehicle is a major consumer purchase 
or investment. The consumer rights should thus be clearly defined including the 
means for redress for violations thereof. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms shall mean: 
(a) "Brand new motor vehicle" refers to a vehicle constructed entirely from 
new parts that has never been sold or registered with the Department of 
Transportation and Communications or an appropriate agency or authority and 
operated on the highway of the Philippines, or in a foreign state or country. 
(b) "Col/ateral Charges" refer to the fees paid to the Land Transportation 
Office for the registration of a brand new motor vehicle. 
(c) "Comparable Motor Vehicle" refers to a motor vehicle that is identical 
or reasonably equivalent to the motor vehicle to be replaced, in terms of 
specifications and values subject to availability, as the motor vehicle existed at 
the time of purchase; Provided, That there shall be an offset from this value for 
reasonable allowance for its use. 
(d) "Consumer" refers to any person, natural or juridical, who is a 
purchaser, either by cash or credit of a brand new motor vehicle. 


(e) ''Dealer' or "Seller' refers to any person other than a manufacturer 
which sells motor vehicles to the public. 
(f) "Distributor' refers to any person or entity other than a manufacturer 
who sells brand new motor vehicles to their duly authorized dealers or retailers. 
(g) "Implementing Agency" refers to the Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI). 
(h) "Lemon Law Rights Period" refers to the period ending twelve (12) 
months after the date of the original delivery of a brand new motor vehicle to a 
consumer or the first twenty thousand (20,000) kilometers of operation after such 
delivery, whichever comes first. This shall be the period during which the 
consumer can report any non-conformity to the manufacturer, distributor, 
authorized dealer or retailer, and pursue any right provided for under this Act. 
(i) "Manufacturer' refers to a person, partnership, association, corporation 
or entity engaged in the business of manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles, 
or of distributing motor vehicles to motor vehicle dealers. 
0) "Motor Vehicle" refers to any self-propelled four-wheeled road vehicle 
designed to carry passengers including, but not limited to, sedans, coupes, 
station wagons, convertibles, pickups, vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and 
Asian utility vehicles (AUVs) but excepting motorcycles, delivery trucks, dump 
trucks, buses, road rollers, trolley cars, street sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers 
and heavy equipment, such as, but not limited to bulldozers, payloaders, graders, 
forklifts, amphibian trucks, cranes, and vehicles which run only on rails or tracks, 
and tractors, trailers and traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for 
agricultural purposes. 
Trailers having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended by 
attachment to a motor vehicle, shall be classified as separate motor vehicle with 
no power rating. 
(k) "Non-Conformity" refers to any condition of a brand new motor vehicle 
which prevents it from conforming to the manufacturer's or distributor's standards 
or specifications, which cannot be repaired, but excluding conditions resulting 
from accident, force majeure, abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modification or 
alteration of the brand new motor vehicle. 
(I) "Purchase Price" refers to the invoice price or the amount of money 
which the dealer or retailer actually received for the brand new motor vehicle in 
consideration of the sale of such brand new motor vehicle. 
(m) 'WalTanty" refers to the written assurance, so labeled, of the 
manufacturer of a brand new motor vehicle, including any term or condition 
precedent to the enforcement of obligations under the warranty; 
(n) 'Warranty Rights Period" refers to the period provided for under the 
contract of sale when the manufacturer would guarantee the materials used, 
workmanship and fitness of a brand new motor vehicle for ordinary use or 
reasonable intended purposes. 
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover brand new motor vehicles with 
nonconformity reported by the consumer within twelve (12) months from date of 
original delivery to the consumer or twenty thousand (20,000) kilometers of 


operation after such delivery, whichever comes first. The following causes of 
non-conformity shall be excluded: 
a. noncompliance by the consumer of his obligations under the warranty; 
b. modifications not authorized by the manufacturer or distributor; 
c. abuse or neglect of the brand new motor vehicle; and 
d. damage to the vehicle due to an accident or force majeure. 
SEC. 5. Repair Attempts. - At any time within the lemon law rights period, 
and after at least four (4) separate repair attempts by the same dealer-
manufacturer for the same complaint, the consumer, if still unsatisfied with the 
results of the said repairs, may invoke his rights under this Act. 
SEC. 6. Notice of Avai/ment of Lemon Law Rights. - Before availing of 
any remedy under this Act and subject to compliance with the provisions of 
Section 5 hereof, the consumer shall, in writing, notify the manufacturer, 
distributor, authorized dealer or retailer of the unresolved complaint, and the 
consumer's intention to invoke his rights under the Act within the lemon law rights 
period. 
The warranty booklet issued by the manufacturer, distributor, authorized 
dealer or retailer shall clearly state the responsibility of the consumer under this 
section. It shall likewise provide the manner and form of such notice to constitute 
a valid and legal notice to the manufacturer, distributor, authorized dealer or 
retailer. 
SEC. 7. Availment of Lemon Law Rights. - Subsequent to filing the 
notice of availment referred to in the preceding section, the consumer shall bring 
the vehicle to the dealer from which the vehicle was purchased for a final attempt 
to address the consumer's complaints to his satisfaction. 
It shall be the duty of the manufacturer, distributor, authorized dealer or 
retailer, upon receipt of the motor vehicle and the notice of availment referred to 
in Section 6 hereof, to attend to the complaint of the consumer including, as may 
be necessary, making such repairs and undertaking such actions as to make the 
vehicle conform to the standards or speCifications of the manufacturer or 
distributor for such vehicle. 
In case the consumer remains unsatisfied with the dealer-manufacturer's 
efforts to repair the vehicle, pursuant to the consumer's availment of his lemon 
law rights, the consumer may file a complaint before the DTI as provided under 
this Act, Provided, however, That if the vehicle is not returned for repair for the 
same complaint within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of notice of release 
of the motor vehicle to the consumer following this repair attempt under the 
availment of lemon law rights period, the repair is deemed successful; 
Provided, finally, That in the event that the consumer still remains unsatisfied after 
the thirty (30) day period, but is still within the lemon law rights period, the 
consumer may still avail of the same remedies under Sections 5 and 6 hereof. 
To compensate for the non-usage of the vehicle while under repair and 
during the period of availment of lemon law rights, the consumer shall be 
provided a reasonable daily transportation allowance equivalent to first class taxi, 
in such amount to be agreed upon by the parties, or a service vehicle at the 
option 
of manufacturer, 
distributor, 
authorized 
dealer or retailer. 
Any 


, ' 
disagreement on this matter shall be resolved by the implementing agency 
provided for under this Act. 
Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or impair the rights and remedies 
of a consumer under any other law. 
SEC. 8. Remedies for Dispute Resolution. - The DTI shall exercise 
exclusive and original jurisdiction over disputes arising from the provisions of this 
Act. All disputes arising from the provisions of this Act shall be settled by the DTI 
in accordance with the following dispute resolution mechanisms: 
8.1 Mediation 
(a) The principle of negotiation, conciliation and mediation towards 
amicable settlement between the manufacturer or distributor and 
consumer shall be strictly observed; 
(b) 
In the course of its dispute resolution efforts, the DTI shall endeavor 
to independently establish the validity of the consumer's outstanding 
eomplaint. The DTI shall likewise retain the services of other 
government agencies or independent private entities in the 
ascertainment of the validity of the consumer's complaint. Any cost 
incurred in establishing the validity of the consumer's complaint shall 
be borne jointly by the consumer and the dealer-manufacturer; 
(c) 
The complaint shall be deemed valid if it is independently established 
that the vehicle does not conform to the standards or specifications 
set by the manufacturer; 
(d) 
Upon failure of the 
negotiation or mediation 
between the 
manufacturer or distributor and consumer, the parties shall execute a 
certificate attesting to such failure; 
(e) At any time during the dispute resolution period, the manufacturer or 
distributor shall not be precluded from offering easier remedial terms 
to the consumer to reach amicable settlement at any stage of the 
dispute mechanism. All disputes that have been submitted for 
amicable settlement shall be settled not later than forty five (45) 
working days from the date of filing of the complaint with the DTI. 
8.2 Arbitration 
(a) 
In the event there is a failure to settle the complaint during the 
mediation proceedings, the parties may voluntarily, enter into 
arbitration proceedings, likewise to be supervised by the DTI. The 
DTI shall rely on the independent findings as to conformity to 
standards and speCifications established herein. 
(b) 
In case a non-conformity of the vehicle is found by the DTI, it shall 
rule in favor of the consumer and direct the dealer-manufacturer to 
grant either of the following remedies to the consumer: 
(i) 
replace the motor vehicle with a similar or comparable motor 
vehicle in terms of specifications and values, subject to 
availability; or 


· , 
(ii) 
accept the return of the motor vehicle and pay the consumer 
the purchase price plus collateral charges. 
(c) 
In case a non-conformity of the vehicle is not found by the DTI, it 
shall rule in favor of the dealer-manufacturer and direct the consumer 
to reimburse the dealer-manufacturer the costs incurred by the latter 
in validating the consumer's complaints. 
SEC. 9. Disclosure on Re-sale- Should the returned vehicle he made 
available for resale, the manufacturer or distributor shall, prior to sale, lease, or 
transfer, disclose to the dealer in writing that: 
(a) the motor vehicle was returned to the manufacturer, distributor, factory 
or branch; 
(b) the nature of the non-conformity which caused the return; ~ng, 
(c) the condition of the motor vehicle at the time of the transfer to the 
dealer. 
It shall be the responsibility of the dealer to make the same disclosure in 
writing, in turn, to the next purchaser prior to sale. Adealer's responsibility under 
this section shall cease upon the sale of the affected motor vehicle to the first 
purchaser. 
SEC. 10. Penalty- The manufacturer, distributor or dealer adjudged to 
have violated the prOVisions requiring disclosure as mentioned in the preceding 
section shall be liable to pay a minimum amount of One hundred thousand pesos 
(Php100,OOO.OO) 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. 
SEC. 11. Assistance by Other Agencies.-
The Department of 
Transportation and Communications and other agencies, political subdivisions, 
local government units, including government-owned and controlled corporations 
shall render such assistance as required by the DTI in order to effectively 
implement the provisions of this Act 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Department of 
Trade and Industry shall promUlgate the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations within ninety days (90) days from the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 13. Separability C/ause.- If, for any reason, any part or provision of 
this Act is declared invalid, such declaration shall not affect the other provisions 
of this Act. 
SEC. 14. Repealing C/ause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
issuances, rules or regulations or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby deemed repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 


SEC. 15. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two national newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,