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Opinion

DTI’s hysteria-free solutions

CTALK - Cito Beltran - The Philippine Star

You don’t cut a baby in half just to satisfy two women claiming to be its mother, but the suggestion did bring out the truth and it was a clear exercise of authority intended to settle a dispute affected by hysteria and led to the term “Solomonic Wisdom.”

Yesterday, the Department of Trade and Industry issued their own version of Solomonic wisdom to address the controversial cases of Sudden Unintended Acceleration. Their decision placed priority on consumer safety and welfare but also put into consideration that “SUA” remains undetermined and unproven until an independent third party establishes otherwise. The directives also creates a situation where the parties concerned have to cooperate with each other and go through a process of mandatory safety check-ups, information gathering, repairs based on warranties, as well as putting a stop to the option of resale or reselling damaged vehicles that pass on any inherent risks to a third party.

By doing so, the DTI effectively removed the obstacles or influence of outside parties such as “legal eagles,” scoop seeking media, and the hysterics. This of course won’t stop critics from using assumptions as fact, or probably from beating down the DTI, but after yesterday’s pronouncements, the customers and Mitsubishi now have to talk and work together or be in default if not in violation of the DTI orders.

The DTI directive starts with an order to Mitsubishi dealers to provide for free On Board Diagnostics or Multi-User Tester Check-ups (among others) to determine if a particular Montero Sport has recorded a “Fault Code” or “Data Trouble Code,” meaning the computer displayed that something is wrong with the engine/transmission, etc. If repair is needed, the dealership “Shall forthwith repair.” “The free check up shall include whenever necessary, replacement of all parts”….subject to any existing warranty agreement, whichever is more favorable to the owner.

All Mitsubishi dealers have also been ordered to “record stored DTCs and compare all vehicles findings to determine if there is a common DTC that appear in many Montero Sports A/T units and report such within five days. Mitsubishi will also report how many Montero Sports have been subjected to free check-up every two weeks. In addition, all vehicles that pass inspection must be issued a “Quality Reassurance Certificate” for “SUA” and voluntary non-SUA “for the purposes of acquiring peace of mind.”

To address potential “driver error,” buyers and customers going in for check-up will be given a familiarization lecture regarding the proper operation of A/T units, proper equipment such as floor mats, accessories such as secondary seats as well as driving with slippers or high heels etc. that can cause pedal misapplication or jamming on the floor mats.

To settle the truth or myth behind SUA, the DTI will soon be calling on a third party firm that was recommended to the Board reportedly based in Germany. Unfortunately for the SUA group that has been gunning for a “buy back” or to re-sell their units to a third party, the DTI put their foot down in the interest of public safety as they should. The group of 24 complainants can pursue their claims as consumer complaints.

The DTI deserves praise for making the parties work on a common goal and solution that affects both sides, for continuing with an investigation to solve a very serious and disturbing problem, even willing to pay the cost of a third party investigation that might cost upwards of $60,000, in the interest of public safety and accuracy. We at least have an agency that does not give in to hysteria, media pressure or is swayed by big business. Most importantly they are willing to “put their money where their mouth is.”

* * *

I am all DATA-CAPPED out.

What this means is that my internet service has slowed down to a crawl, and I don’t even know if I can buy more “data” service, or how much I actually consumed. Once upon a time my friend at the telco named “Yoly” explained to me that they had introduced a “Data Cap” or a limit on how much internet usage a subscriber can use because some unscrupulous businesses have been subscribing as individual /residential but actually using their internet for commercial purposes.

I fully respected the concern of the telco and I actually expressed support for Data Cap and my animosity for cheaters of Internet subscriptions.

So how on earth did I end up being Data Capped?!!! I remain a residential user, I even upgraded the speed of my Internet, and yes my wife downloads some old British TV programs every now and then, but three people with normal usage and we get Data Capped?!!!  What’s worse is that I have to take the word of the telco because unlike Meralco or Manila Water that have meters, I have no idea how much data I pay for, how to measure it, or if I have options! To add insult to injury, the telco recently suffered an alleged nationwide failure in their Internet services so I had to use my phone just to send out my column last Wednesday. This Data Cap business needs to be investigated by the DTI and the Senate soon!

* * *

While monitoring the movement and impact of the Transgender typhoon Nonoy /Nona, I heard a very good comment from a DZBB reporter and anchor during their 5:30 a.m. watch that is worth repeating and pushing for implementation.

The guys at DZBB observed how during every typhoon, buses and large trucks always pile up at different piers or ports in the Philippines. Even when the weather bureau and media have announced three to four days in advance that a typhoon will pass through a specific or projected route. The suggestion made was to stop buses from travelling or leaving their bus stations during such forecasts so that passengers are not left stranded at ports and boat terminals for days, where they run out of money, have no comfortable or safe places to stay during a storm or inclement weather and to prevent potential tragedy or catastrophe if a typhoon goes right through them.

If the Philippine Coast Guard can issue a No Travel advisory, the LTFRB should do likewise for buses and vans that take ROROS or ferry boats for interisland journeys.

 

ACIRC

ALL MITSUBISHI

DATA

DATA CAP

DATA CAPPED

DATA TROUBLE CODE

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY

DTI

FAULT CODE

IF THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MITSUBISHI

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