Noisy feedback

I just got back from Singapore. And I’m neither coughing nor running a fever. I had not visited that city state in half a year and hadn’t ventured out of this tortuous metropolis in that same period of time. I was struck by the immediate contrast between the order and sense of security there and the disorder and insecurity here in Metro Manila. I also took notice of the lack of noise and absence of blight that help make this island nation one of the most livable cities in Asia, if not the world.

Related to the above observations, I have received a lot of feedback on a recent City Sense article on noise pollution. Below is a sampling of the e-mails and my reactions to them.

Let’s Get Loud

From Stephen Foster: May I sound my horn on the topic of noise pollution in the Philippines? I am an American who has lived here for over 12 years now and I enjoy your column, especially the one on noise within the context of Manila. Thanks for trying to raise the awareness of the need to reduce noise; however personally I don’t feel there’s any hope for Manila in the noise department. This is an example of something that one just has to learn to tolerate.

I agree with Stephen that we have to tolerate some of the noise but we should press for our right to be free from a health-threatening environment. Yes, Filipinos have grown so accustomed to noise that often, the voice of reason and rationality is lost in the din.

From LG, an immigrant overseas: After reading your article, I could help but recall everything that you mentioned. Pollution in the form of air, water, noise, to name a few, was one of the reasons my family and I immigrated to another country. Here (the reader did not specify which country they migrated to), the government is very strict with regard to noise and everybody follows the law. Rarely would you hear the honking of cars and the roaring of loud car exhaust pipes (even motorcycles hum like cars). Sirens and wang-wangs are limited to police, fire and ambulance vehicles. Roosters crowing, dogs barking for more than three minutes are a no-no; very noisy parties beyond legal limits would prompt a visit from the police, and even noisy neighbors could be evicted from their homes. Even the government plays its part in reducing noise by establishing  factories, repair shops, eateries and the like far from residential communities. Violators of whatever social standing are dealt with swiftly. May I add that unborn children, while still in their mothers’ wombs, are severely affected by noise pollution as well? Just ask a neonatologist. The singing of birds, the rustling of tleaves as a cool wind breezes by, the rippling of a nearby brook, or the soft crashing of waves or the stillness of the night can still be heard in our beautiful country.  

Thank you, LG, for your feedback. Not everyone has the option to escape to saner shores. I am not encouraging migration, but I cannot blame those who take this option. They put the health and safety of their loved ones as their top priority and most, like LG, have come to the point of realization that there is little chance for change in their lifetime. Personally, I think we can, like the Singaporeans and Malaysians, change within one lifetime as they have.

From Emily: I am one of your regular Saturday readers. I really enjoy reading your articles. Your last article on noisy city is really very true. You should hear the buses blow their horns in SM Makati trying to get passengers. Coming from Ayala and turning right on Edsa, there they are, causing traffic and making all that noise. But I would like to share with you that there are areas where they prohibit the blowing of horns (which is a very good practice). The driveway in Makati Medical Center is one and the Assumption San Lorenzo is another. At least, they are aware of the noise pollution issue. I believe cars passing through churches should not blow their horns, too. I’d also like to share with you our observation of the Manila Hotel when our group went there for a tour. I know it is one of our beautiful and historical hotels, but … (now) it has been – I do not know the term to use – well, turned into a cheap-looking hotel. The last time I was there, I did not see the doormen in salakot and barong opening the doors … how sad. I hope our National Historical Commission was consulted when the shares were sold and that the original decor was kept.

Yes Emily, there are a few places where noise is controlled but for 99.99 percent of the city, there is nothing but noise. On the subject of the Manila Hotel — well, I’ll leave that for another article …a long one at that (I have received continuous unsolicited feedback on the hotel’s mutation).

From Francis Dagnalan, president of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP): I agree with you that noisy activities should be segregated from areas requiring peace and quiet or at least muffled, as an interim solution. You are right that the noise problem won’t be solved even if one moves up, say, a few floors in a building, except when the movement is, say, to the 30th or 40th floor of a high-rise building.

Francis goes on to suggest: I am just thinking of how best to solve the noise problem that you mentioned, particularly the tricycles plying the streets and those playing basketball till the wee hours of the morning. In this area, may I propose a concept that is already in practice abroad but relatively unknown or nonexistent in most localities in our country: The Community Based Regulatory Zoning Initiatives. By community-based, I am referring to barangay or even street- level autonomous regulation, where people’s organizations and community associations take a proactive stance to educate and discipline the noisemakers. In a sense, the rules and regulations of some residential subdivisions partake of this nature. However, I think we cannot and should not totally rely on Exclusionary Zoning address to resolve all of our noise problems. At any rate, I think these can be addressed via the adoption and enforcement of effective, relevant and realistic performance standards. I believe that your article will be a wake-up call not only for local government officials but also for policymakers and even business entrepreneurs.

Making Civic Noise

I agree with environmental planner Dagnalan that community-based initiatives can make a difference. Our government officials all do need a wake-up call. With all the noise around us, I am surprised that most of them can still sleep. Well, maybe not too surprised, because despite all their disservice, they can still keep a straight face and keep on saying that they are doing their best. Big businessmen (and small businessmen like those noisy and pollutive jeepney and tricycle operators) can also make a difference as long as they do not keep on using excuses, like the ongoing war, to compromise pollution standards for the sake of survival. Woe to all of us, if nobody takes responsibility.

True citizenship requires that we make ourselves heard. The noise we should all make should be one that shouts for change. There should be standards made … and kept ... that ensure that our environment is free from the debilitating effects of noise, blight and all forms of pollution. Only then can we get some peace and quiet.

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Feedback is welcome. Please e-mail the writer at citysensephilstar@hotmail.com.