House mulls karaoke ban in residential areas

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has moved closer to approving a bill that seeks to ban karaoke and videoke systems in residential areas.

The committee on public order and safety, chaired by Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, has endorsed Bill 1035 authored by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan.

The bill seeks to tackle 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 pressure and other cardiovascular problems as well as nervous disorders,” Tan said.

She said the major sources of noise in residential areas are videoke and karaoke systems. 

In many cases, those operating these devices even occupy public streets or roadsides, she said.

“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 is detrimental to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare and prosperity of the general public,” she added.

Tan pointed out that despite existing anti-noise pollution rules, current legislation does not squarely address President Duterte’s policy pronouncement of enforcing a 10 p.m. ban on videoke/karaoke singing as part of imposing discipline to make the entire country safe and orderly.

Under Bill 1035, the playing or operating or permitting of any radio, CD player, television set, amplified musical instrument, loudspeaker, videoke or karaoke system, or other sound amplifying equipment, would be allowed only from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. throughout the week.

Operation of such machine or device as to be plainly audible at a distance of 50 feet from where it is located would be prima facie evidence of a violation.

An offender would face imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of P1,000, or both.

In addition to these penalties, a repeat offender would lose his business license.

Several groups advocating stricter noise pollution regulation have supported the Tan bill.