ILOILO City – The Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) has started enforcing the Anti-Modified Muffler Ordinance, the city government’s answer to complaints against excessive, irritating and unhealthful sound produced by improvised mufflers of motor vehicles.
Twelve motorcycles have so far been apprehended, according to PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu.
The licenses of their drivers were confiscated and citation tickets were issued.
“So far we have not encountered resistance,” said Conlu.
The apprehended drivers claimed they did not know there was such an ordinance, said Conlu, “but waay na kita nagpaayo. Ginhambalan naton sila nga ibalik nila ang ila original mufflers.”
Since this was their first offense,
the drivers were fined P1,000 each as provided for in the ordinance.
The second offense has a fine of P3,000 and the third offense, P5,000 plus
confiscation of mufflers.
The anti-muffler ordinance was approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in April 2017 yet. The lack of sound meter devices, however, stalled its enforcement.
It was only recently that two sound meter devices were acquired, said Conlu.
The city government plans to purchase 20 more of these devices for distribution to various district police stations.
“So they could help enforce the ordinance,” said Conlu.
The Anti-Modified Muffler Ordinance (“Ordinance Prohibiting the Selling and Using of Modified Mufflers of Public and Private Motor Vehicles in Iloilo City and Providing Penalties Thereof”) was unanimously approved by the city council and covered both private and public utility vehicles.
It was authored by then councilor Joshua Alim and supported by the Committee on Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order and Security, Dangerous Drugs and Rehabilitation then chaired by Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon, now the city’s vice mayor.
In his committee report, Ganzon recommended that 90 decibel should be the basis for apprehending vehicles with loud, irritating noise, citing Presidential Decree 953 which also set 90 decibels of noise audible in a 10-meter radius is allowable.
The committee conducted two hearings – on Feb. 27, 2017 and April 7, 2017 – attended by owners of big bikes, transport groups, tricycle associations, and muffler installers.
Mufflers filter the sound and the smoke emission from motor vehicles’ engines.
“A Land Transportation Office Administrative Order, meanwhile, allows up to 115 decibels f noise away from the source. The 115 decibels is too loud already but is tolerated only because of the lack of a noise measuring device,” stated Ganzon.
Violators of said ordinance will face corresponding and penalties./PN
