ILOILO City – If you’ve been singing at the top of your lungs every day in this southern city, you better put down your mics. Mayor Jerry Treñas just prohibited videoke and karaoke sessions from Monday to Friday to prevent loud noises that hamper online classes and distract learners studying at home.
He issued yesterday Executive Order (EO) No. 164, which bans beginning today, Oct. 10, videoke machines and activities tending to cause “unnecessary noise” from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“There’s a need to enforce these measures so our students could study well at home and not be distracted during class hours,” Treñas said.
In his EO, the mayor defined unnecessary noise as “any excessive or unusually loud sound, or any sound which annoys, disturbs, injures, endangers the comfort, health, peace, or safety of a person, or which cause injury to plant, animal life, or damage to property or business.”
“Studies show that unwanted noise could give negative effects on students both physically and psychologically, such as frustration and nuisance,” Treñas stressed.
The mayor’s directive came after Interior secretary Eduardo Año urged local government units to prohibit videoke and other loud, disturbing noises during online class schedules as millions of students adjust to the distance learning system as a measure against coronavirus disease 2019.
Under the new system, learners study mostly in their homes through printed or digital modules given by schools, or through online classes via videoconferencing platforms. These are supplemented by lessons delivered through television and radio.
Treñas also cited in his EO Regulation Ordinance No. 2015-162, which regulates noise pollution in the city.
Section 2 of the mayor’s executive order regulates ambient noise or encompassing noise associated with a given environment, being usually composed of sound from sources near or far.
Vehicle owners have to avoid unnecessary blowing of car horns during school hours, 7 a.m. to 5p.m. during weekdays as these will also distract the learners.
Also, establishments conducting commercial and industrial activities are strongly enjoined to minimize unnecessary noise during school hours.
Barangay officials, in close coordination with the police, are also directed to apprehend and monitor illegal gambling activities like tupada, bingo and betting stations. They shall also monitor and prevent mass gatherings such as drinking spree.
Persons violating the EO will be penalized in accordance with Section 8 of Regulation Ordinance No. 2015-160./PN
