Bill seeks to stop noisy karaokes
A House of Representatives committee has taken steps in stopping noisy homeowners, especially those playing irksome karaoke units, from irritating their neighbors.
The House Committee on Public Order and Safety recently discussed House Bill (HB) 1035 that proposes to penalize noisy neighbors, especially at night time.
The House panel also created a technical working group to make a study on the proposal and submit its recommendation to the committee.
Authored by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, HB 1035 proposes to put an end to noise pollution and unnecessary disturbances to the public produced by sound amplifying equipment in residential areas.
Noisy neighbors may soon be a thing of the past, as the House committee on public order and safety has approved the creation of a technical working group (TWG) to deliberate on a proposal prohibiting the use of videoke and karaoke systems in residential areas.
The bill refers to noise or sound pollution as any exposure of people or even animals to sound levels that are annoying, stressful, or damaging to the ears. Tan noted that in recent years, much of the world has become urban, industrial, and chronically noisy.
“Noise causes difficulty in conversations. It interferes with sleep and negatively impacts certain kinds of work. As a source of stress, it can promote high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems as well as nervous disorders,” said Tan, chairperson of the House Committee on Health.
She noted that major sources of noise among residential areas in the country are videoke and karaoke systems.
The administration lawmaker said that many local residents or groups are accustomed to occupying public streets or road sides to gain a wider space for private activities or functions, often making use of videoke and karaoke systems and amplified audio devices.
“The making or creation of excessive, unnecessary or unusually loud sounds from videoke/karaoke systems or other amplified audio devices beyond limits and at unacceptable levels during unholy hours causes serious discomfort and has created numerous complaints and public condemnation as they are detrimental to public health, comfort, convenience, safety, welfare, and prosperity of the general public,” Tan said.
She stressed that the bill is in keeping with President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy pronouncement of imposing a 10 p.m. ban on videoke/karaoke singing as part of imposing strict discipline to make the entire country safe and orderly.