It is Christmas season again and the Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau (MTMB) is stepping up its campaign against open pipe mufflers on vehicles that emit loud noises.

“Paalala sa ating mga motorista! Mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang paggamit ng Open Pipe Mufflers at iba pang modipikasyon sa Lungsod ng Muntinlupa. Ito ay nakapaloob sa ating City Ordinance 04-022 o Muntinlupa Traffic Code, Art. III Sec. 9. (Reminder to our motorists. The use of open pipe mufflers and other modifications is strictly prohibited in the City of Muntinlupa. This is contained in our City Ordinance 04-022 o Muntinlupa Traffic Code, Art. III Sec. 9,” MTMB’s Juan Masunurin Facebook page posted on Dec. 15. Violators will be fined P2,500.

Section 9 of the city traffic code prohibits the use of gadgets on vehicles that “emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds.”

“No private person shall use or cause to be used sirens, bells, horns. whistles or similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including dome lights and emergency red flashing lights installed in either front or rear, and emergency red light blinkers and other similar signaling or flashing devices that actually impede and confuse traffic and which are inconsistent with sound traffic discipline and control on the roads,” according to the section of the ordinance.

Section 85 of the same traffic code states that “no person shall operate a motor vehicle on a street unless such motor vehicle is equipped, at all times, with a muffler or mufflers in constant operation and of sufficient capacity for the motor, and equipped with an exhaust system to prevent the escape of excessive fumes or smoke and unusual noise.”

In subdivisions in Muntinlupa, residents often complain about motorcycles with modified mufflers that create loud noise and disturb their communities especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic when kids attend classes at home.

On the MTMB Facebook page, netizens commented about the campaign against open pipe mufflers.

“Yan ang wish namin matagal na (That has been our wish),” commented Sally Tan.

According to Markanthony Recacho, “Bakit tuwing malapit lang December 31 lang kayo naghihigpit. Buong taon ang dami maiingay na muffler (Why is it that only when December 31 is near that you become strict. There are so many loud mufflers throughout the year).”

“Kalokohan....wala naman nanghuhili...ningas kugon (This is a joke. No one apprehends),” according to Anthony Acosta