The Pateros Municipal Council has passed an ordinance “banning excessive and unreasonably loud sounds and unnecessary noise” to prevent disruption of online classes.
Mayor Miguel Ponce III signed Ordinance 2020-32 which provides that loud sounds and noise are banned from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays.
It defines “excessive and unreasonably loud sounds” as those “emanating from mufflers and audio devices such as operating, playing or permitting the operation or playing of any radio, CD or MP3 player, television sets, amplified musical band instruments, loud speakers, videoke or karaoke systems or other sound-producing device within residences and establishments, on the streets and open bars and night clubs, with such volume annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers” others.
Unnecessary noise pertains to “loud sounds that emanates from residential areas such as loud private gatherings, domestic and public quarrels.”
Violation of the ordinance carries penalties of P1,000 or 15 days imprisonment for the first offense, P2,000 or 30 days imprisonment for the second, and P2,500 fine and/or 90 days imprisonment for the third.
Violators who are minors will be placed under the custody of the barangay chairman or representative, or social worker. The parents will be fined as well.
During a Facebook live broadcast, Ponce also announced that curfew in Pateros will be from midnight to 3 a.m. starting Dec. 1 as agreed upon by Metro Manila mayors.
Ponce added that he will issue an executive order banning caroling and holding of Christmas parties in the municipality except among families in their homes.
He also said the traditional “pamamasko” on Christmas Day will be banned this year due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
“Siguro i-limit na lang po natin muna dun sa ating mga ninong at ninang at doon sa kamag-anak (Perhaps we should limit it to our godfathers and godmothers and to our relatives),” he said.