Manila bans karaoke, videoke sessions

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city government has banned videoke and karaoke sessions to prevent loud noises that will distract students attending online classes.

Mayor Isko Moreno signed on Tuesday night Ordinance No. 8688, which prohibits the use of karaoke and videoke machines as well as other sound-producing devices from Monday to Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Moreno said he approved the ordinance in response to complaints of parents and students whose online classes are disrupted by the noise.

Moreno said he has received complaints from parents of students, who were distracted by neighbors using karaokes since classes in public schools opened on Monday.

Face-to-face classes in both public and private schools have been suspended amid the threat of COVID-19.

The Department of Education has shifted to blended learning system for the entire school year.

Under the ordinance, first-time violators will be fined P1,000. Second-time offenders will pay a fine of P2,000.

A fine of P3,000 will be slapped on those who will violate the measure for the third and succeeding offenses.

Moreno ordered police and barangay officials to implement the ordinance, which was passed by the city council headed by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Majority Floor Leader Joel Chua.

Tiangco wants one-year ban

In Navotas, Mayor Toby Tiangco has asked the city council to approve an ordinance that would ban karaoke sessions for a year to help students adjust to the distance learning system.

In his letter to Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo who presides over the city council, Tiangco reported the complaints of some residents about the noise from karaoke machines.

Tiangco urged the city council to approve an ordinance that would prohibit karaoke sessions from Monday to Saturday until July 30 next year.

He proposed that videoke sessions be allowed only on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. “to give the people time for relaxation.”

On Wednesday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units to ban gambling, drinking and other noisy activities that could disrupt the online classes.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said videoke parties, bingo games and tupada or illegal cockfights cause loud noises.

Año said these activities result in mass gatherings, which are prohibited under community quarantine.

DILG Undersecretary for barangay affairs Martin Dino asked other Metro Manila mayors to pass ordinances that prohibit karaokes, especially during school hours. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas, Romina Cabrera