Amid the election campaign, the Muntinlupa City government has passed an ordinance restricting the playing of audio materials through loudspeakers in residential areas and other quiet zones in the city.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon signed Ordinance No. 2025-330 (Quiet Zones Ordinance) passed by the Muntinlupa City Council which regulates “the use or playing of marketing or information campaign audio materials through loudspeakers, mixers, amplifiers, microphones, and other similar sound-producing systems and audio devices mounted on any roving manual, motor, or electric vehicle within designated quiet zones in the City of Muntinlupa, prescribing allowable hours for use, imposing penalties for violations, and for other purposes."
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon (Photo from Mayor Biazon's Facebook account)
One of the bases for the ordinance is a memorandum from the Department of the Interior and Local Government issued in January, with the subject "Highly Encouraging Local Government Units (LGUS) to Address Public Nuisance and Noise Pollution.”
“The City Government of Muntinlupa recognizes the need to regulate excessive, unnecessary, or unusually loud sound from mobile sound systems and audio devices that exceed acceptable levels and extend beyond the allowable time period, particularly within residential areas and designated quiet zones,” according to the ordinance.
It added that “there has been a clamor from the public against excessive, unnecessary, or unusually loud sound from mobile sound systems and audio devices that exceed acceptable levels, contribute to noise pollution and disrupt the peace in communities.”
The ordinance covers “all individuals, groups, and organizations within Muntinlupa City who use or play marketing or information campaign audio materials through loudspeakers, amplifiers, microphones, or similar audio devices mounted on roving manual, motor, or electric vehicles (EV).”
“Violators include, but are not limited to, vehicle operators, information campaign promoters, and initiators. If marketing or information campaign audio materials are played through sponsorship, the sponsor, benefactor, donor, vehicle operator, and driver shall also be liable for the penalties herein,” according to the local law.
Under the ordinance, the quiet zones in Muntinlupa are residential areas, places of worship, schools, hospitals and health centers, secondary roads, and inner roads.
The playing of marketing or information campaign audio materials with roving or mobile vehicles in residential areas is allowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Friday to Saturday.
The use of campaign audio materials is prohibited within 100 meters of places of worship, schools, hospitals and health centers at all times.
In Muntinlupa’s secondary and inner roads, the playing of the marketing or information campaign materials is allowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Friday to Saturday.
“Any use beyond these hours shall be considered a violation and subject to penalties as provided in this Ordinance,” the ordinance stated.
Exempted from ordinance are city events, government information and education campaigns, public announcements using mobile audio systems, religious and cultural activities, non-government events with prior permit from the City Government of Muntinlupa, and vehicles in the course of emergency response.
Persons who violate the ordinance will be fined P2,000 to P5,000, or imprisonment of 30 days or both.
“Any person apprehended for violation of this City Ordinance, who does not wish to contest the violation and is willing to pay voluntarily the fine imposed upon him/her, prior to the filing of a formal complaint with the Office of the city Prosecutor, shall be allowed to pay the said fine within five (5) working days from the issuance of the City Ordinance Violation Receipt (COVR) with the City Treasurer to avoid being criminally prosecuted,” the ordinance added.