THE House of Representatives has backed a measure prohibiting the use of videoke and karaoke systems in residential areas.
Rep. Angelina Tan of Quezon, author of House Bill 1035, welcomed the House committee on public order and safety’s creation of a technical working group that will draft the final version of the bill addressing noise pollution and unnecessary disturbances to the public produced by sound amplifying equipment in residential areas.
“Noise causes difficulty in conversations. It interferes with sleep and negatively impacts certain kinds of work. As a source of stress, it can promote high blood pres sure and other cardiovascular problems as well as nervous disorders,” said Tan, chairman of the House committee on health.
She acknowledged that major sources of noise among residential areas were videoke and karaoke systems.
Tan said many local residents or groups were accustomed to occupying public streets or road sides to gain a wider space for private activities or functions, often making use of videoke and karaoke systems and amplified audio devices.
“The making or creation of excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud sounds from videoke/karaoke systems or other amplified audio devices beyond limits and at unacceptable levels during unholy hours causes serious discomfort and has created numerous complains and public condemnation as they are detrimental to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare, and prosperity of the general public,” Tan said.
The committee chairman, Antipolo City Rep. Romeo Acop, rallied behind the bill’s passage, taking into account the welfare of businesses while protecting the health of the public.
HB 1035 defines noise or sound pollution as any exposure of people or even animals to sound levels that are annoying, stressful, or damaging to the ears.
Tan noted that in recent years, much of the world had become urban, industrial, and chronically noisy.
Tan, in filing the bill, said despite existing anti-noise pollution laws, current legislation did not squarely address President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy pronouncement of enforcing a 10 p.m. ban on videoke/karaoke singing as part of imposing strict discipline to make the entire country safe and orderly.
The bill provides that the playing or operating or permitting either action of any radio, CD player, television set, amplified musical instrument, loudspeaker videoke or karaoke system, or other sound amplifying equipment shall only be allowed from eight o’clock in the morning until 10 o’ clock in the evening throughout the week.
Under the bill, operation of such machine or device as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from the place in which it is located shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.
Any individual or business entity found in violation shall be punished by a fine of P1,000 or an imprisonment of not more than six months, or both.
Succeeding offenses shall be met with both penalties in addition to the revocation of the license to operate a business. If the violation is committed by a corporation, partnership, association or similar entity, the most senior officers shall be held liable for the offense.