Ah, yes, noise pollution. Whether it’s coming from motorcycles with obnoxiously loud, open mufflers equivalent to non-JASMA, N1 mufflers for 4-wheelers, these “fart” cans have been a plague in society. There, as well as to one’s ear drums. What’s worse is when these inconsiderate vehicle owners would pull on their motorcycle’s accelerator or step on their car’s accelerator with no care for anyone else. If we were to take a page out of Bacoor’s Ordinance playbook, though, this could – and should – be easily remedied.
CO 5-2014 of Bacoor City, Cavite aims to stop noise pollution from motor vehicle mufflers. But wait, there’s more…
Photo: City Government of Bacoor
Earlier this year, we published an article about Tagbilaran City in Bohol confiscated and crushed illegal and improvised motorcycle mufflers. It won’t take an extremely vehicle-oriented individual to know that these contribute to noise pollution, and many lauded the accompanying ceremony that came with the steamroller. We also said that maybe NCR can take a hint.
That said, we’ve come across yet another city beyond NCR that has had an Ordinance in existence since 2014, one that deals not only with noisy motorcycles but those installed on all other land motor vehicle types as well. Yes, City Ordinance CO 5-2014 is already 11 years old, and it recently came back to light after what seems to be a “re-” enforcement of its provisions, with no prejudice towards what kind of vehicle is responsible for adding to noise pollution.
Photo: City Government of Bacoor
For everyone’s information, a “motor vehicle” is defined as “any transport vehicle that runs on an engine such as motorcycles, tricycles, motorized pedicabs, kuliglig, cars, jeepneys, trucks, and other similar modes of transportation”. As for the ordinance itself, we can translate it into layman’s terms by explaining thusly: any motor vehicle does not have a muffler installed, or has one but is modified, damaged, or produces any excessive noise, it cannot be used in the city of Bacoor, Cavite. Specific areas that will not bear with any form of noise pollution can be found in the CO 5-2014 document itself.
Strangely enough, different areas allow for different sound levels at different times of the day, and these can be found in the document as well. Just for a brief backgrounder, though, any vehicle muffler’s “volume” must only be measured between 70 db and a maximum of 99 db to be considered as non-noise pollution contributors/creators.
There are fines lined up for any violation of the City Ordinance as well, and they are as follows:
First Offense= PHP 2,500USD 43INR 3,765EUR 41CNY 313
Second Offense = PHP 3,500USD 60INR 5,271EUR 58CNY 439
Third Offense = PHP 5,000USD 86INR 7,530EUR 82CNY 627
Fourth Offense = PHP 5,000USD 86INR 7,530EUR 82CNY 627 OR imprisonment of not more than ten (10) days OR both upon the discretion of the proper court of law.
Photo: City Government of Bacoor
Yes, everyone, contributing to noise pollution in Bacoor costs a pretty centavo. Now that you’ve read this, consider yourself aware, educated, and reminded that CO 5-2014 exists, and such a law/ordinance will be enforced to its full extent if only to rid us of those horrid and loud mufflers and exhausts.
Heaven knows it’s run rampant and amok in the Metropolis for too long now, unchecked and unchallenged. Again, we say, perhaps NCR should take a page out of the Bacoor, Cavite noise pollution solution playbook. That should give the MMDA, LTO, HPG, PNP, and other deputized agents of the law something to very easily catch and curb, yes?
