ILOILO City – Fed up with blaring motorcycle noise disrupting neighborhoods, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has ordered a full-scale crackdown on the use and sale of modified mufflers, warning violators of stiff penalties, confiscations, and even jail time.
Citing mounting complaints from residents — especially the elderly, the sick, and night shift workers — Treñas vowed to strictly implement the city’s Anti-Muffler Ordinance, describing the loud, disruptive noise from illegal exhaust systems as a “public nuisance we cannot allow to continue.”
Beyond peace and order, Treñas said, this is about compassion and respect for fellow Ilonggos.
“Many of them can’t sleep at night because of these intolerable motorcycle noises,” he said.
The city’s enforcement units — including the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) and the Transportation and Traffic Management Office (TTMO) — have been directed to intensify operations, which previously led to the confiscation of more than 80 illegal mufflers from June to December 2024.
Under Ordinance No. 2017-087, enacted on May 24, 2023, it is illegal to sell, install, or use modified mufflers that produce sound exceeding 99 decibels at an engine speed of 2,000 to 2,500 rpm.
Violators will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, P2,000 for the second, and P5,000 for the third, along with the removal of the modified muffler and confiscation of their driver’s license.
Treñas warned that those who refuse to stop when flagged down or who defy authorities will be slapped with an additional P1,000 fine.
Offenders may also face imprisonment ranging from three months and one day to six months, depending on the court’s decision.
To reclaim their licenses, violators must pay the fine within 72 hours and attend an orientation by the City Legal Office and TTMO. Their license details will also be forwarded to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 6.
Shops caught selling or installing the prohibited devices may face permit revocation. The city’s Business Permits and Licensing Division will continue to monitor compliance.
The mayor emphasized that this initiative is not new — a similar order was issued in December 2024.
“We are simply making good on our promise to uphold public welfare and livability,” Treñas said. “Everyone has a role in making Iloilo a more peaceful city.”/PN
