Page 23 - Hello Philippines December 2015 'B' ISSUE

December 2015 / Fortnightly – No. 24 • UK & Europe Edition NEWS www.hello-philippines.com 21

Solon pushes for creation of gov’t agency to check cars’ roadworthiness
AMID reports of road accidents identified a motor vehicle safety- NMVSA a report regarding any
caused by supposedly defective related defect. However, if the safety-related defect or potential Earlier this year, Villar’s panel hearings on the SUA issue
vehicles, a lawmaker is pushing for agency believes that the data defect it discovers in its vehicles or looked into reports about the surrounding the Montero SUV
the creation of a governing body submitted to it indicates the motor vehicle equipment. The same frequent sudden unintended model brought into the open the
that will ensure the roadworthiness existence of a defect, it shall prepare information should also be relayed acceleration (SUA) incidents country’s weak enforcement of laws
of automobiles and implement an a briefing to be presented to a panel to concerned motor vehicle owners, involving Mitsubishi Montero for automotive safety. He noted
effective automotive recall system. of experts for peer review. and a recall should be voluntarily sport utility vehicles (SUVs). In a that under the Road Vehicles Law
implemented. Failure to do so will hearing last May, Mitsubishi Motors of Japan, automotive companies
Under House Bill 6310 filed by If the panel concurs with the result in one year imprisonment and Philippines Corporation (MMPC) are fined up to 200 million yen for
Las Piñas City Rep. Mark Villar, NMVSA’s recommendation that a a fine of P10 million. said it had recorded 97 cases of hiding safety defects and failing
a National Motor Vehicle Safety recall should be conducted, the SUAs involving the Montero model. to recall the deficient vehicles or
Administration (NMVSA) will be agency shall notify the manufacturer Villar, chair of the House of making false reports on vehicle
established as an agency under the of the panel’s concurrence and Representatives committee on trade Following the probe, the House defects.
Department of Transportation and may, if appropriate, provide a final and industry, said a recall system committee adopted a motion urging
Communications (DOTC). opportunity to present new analysis for motor vehicles similar to what the Department of Trade and “The same set of standard should
or data. This will be a followed by Japan started in 1969 should be Industry to order and pull out the be available to our consumers.
The NMVSA shall primarily sending a recall request letter to the put in place to prevent statistics on vehicle model in the market until Filipinos does not deserve anything
be responsible for prescribing manufacturer. road accidents caused by defective the SUA issue has been resolved. less,” he said. n Xianne Arcangel / ALG, GMA
motor vehicle safety standards for automobiles from rising.
motor vehicles and motor vehicle Should the manufacturer decline Villar said the congressional News / Published / December 13, 2015 / 2:30 pm
equipment, which will serve as to conduct a recall, the NMVSA “The mechanism obliges
preventive measures; carrying out shall issue an initial decision that a manufacturers to collect and repair
needed research and development; safety-related defect exists. safety-deficient vehicles that are
as well as investigating causes of ‘perceived’ to have design flaws or
highway, road and street accidents Following a series of public manufacturing defects. Hindi pa
which in its judgment suggest a hearings, the NMVSA shall man napapatunayan, kinokolekta
potential safety defect involving issue a final decision, which the na to prevent further injury,” he
groups of motor vehicles or motor manufacturer could challenge in said.
vehicle equipment. court.
In the first half of 2015, the
The proposed agency’s The proposed agency, however, Philippine National Police (PNP)–
investigation of a particular case could also ask the court to compel Highway Patrol Group (HPG)
may be closed if the manufacturer the manufacturer to recall already reported that 567 persons
notifies the NMVSA that it will the defective motor vehicle or died and 5,220 others were
conduct a safety recall or if automotive equipment. injured in 11,285 traffic accidents
government inspectors have not nationwide.
The bill requires automotive
manufacturers to submit to the