Noisy motor vehicles now banned in Manila
NOISY motor vehicles that use modified mufflers and exhaust pipes that disturb the peace in their communities specially among those attending classes or working via online are now banned in Manila.
Mayor Isko Moreno directed Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau chief Dennis Viaje and Manila Police District Director Gen. Leo Francisco to ensure the implementation of a newly-passed ordinance that not only prohibits the use or operation of motor vehicles with modified muffler that emits and produces noise, but also penalizes them.
Moreno gave the order as he signed into law Ordinance 8772 presented by Manila City Council Presiding Officer Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and principally authored by, among others, Majority Floorleader Atty. Joel Chua and Councilors Terrence Alibarbar, Philip Lacuna and Joel Villanueva, which sets as “excessive, loud and unreasonable” noise levels that are beyond the national standard of 99 decibels taken at an engine speed of 2,000 to 2,500rpm.
Manila Barangay Bureau Director Romeo Bagay was also directed by Moreno to disseminate the said ordinance known as the “”Motor Vehicle Modified Muffler Noise Regulation Ordinance of the City of Manila”, to the 896 barangay heads in the city for proper implementation.
“This rampant but obnoxious practices have resulted in serious disagreement, including bodily injuries and death, between owners of motor vehicles with modified muffler or pipe and the complaining public,” Moreno said, adding that it also causes disturbance among those who attend online classes or work from home and even to night workers who sleep during the day.
Chua explained that the ordinance covers all motor vehicles, whether public or private, with modified muffler or exhaust pipe, including those already existing in the City of Manila, with the exemption of those motor vehicles designed for use in sports competitions, motor shows and those with a displacement of 400cc and above.
Chua said the barangays, on the other hand, are to serve as complementary force in the effective implementation of the ordinance within their territorial jurisdiction by reporting the offender to the MPD or the MTPB.
The enforcers duly-deputized by the mayor shall confiscate the driver’s license of the violator and issue an OVR which will serve as the violator’s temporary driver’s license for a period of five days from the date of its issuance.
The confiscated driver’s license will be returned to the violator once his vehicle passes a second noise level testing and proof of payment of the corresponding penalties had been presented.
According to Chua, failure to install an adequate muffler system or having a muffler system that does not suppress the noise emanating from the vehicle but rather increase the noise shall be penalized with removal of modified muffler or exhaust pipe and fine of P1,000 for the first offense; P3,000 for second offense and P5,000 for third and subsequent offenses.
In case the motor vehicle of the offender fails to pass the noise level testing for a second time, the city government will undertake the necessary repair of the vehicle, with the offender shouldering the cost of repairs to be charged by the duly accredited vehicle repair shop in addition to the penalties already due.
