Lapu-Lapu set to ban noisy mufflers

CEBU, Philippines - Motorcycle shop dealers, barangay captains, and city officials in Lapu-Lapu have agreed to ban the use of modified mufflers in the city.

The ban will be carried out through a proposed ordinance called the “Anti-Borabora Ordinance of 2016” penned by Association of the Barangay Captains (ABC) President Jose Dungog, the City Council’s ex-officio member.

The ban aims to diminish noise and carbon dioxide pollution to support Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

“Borabora” is a local term that means “tambutso” or exhausted pipe, commonly called mufflers.

Once approved, the ordinance will prohibit motorcycles or motorbikes, tricycles including automobiles, to use big and modified mufflers in the city. Modified mufflers can be noisy and disturb those who are sleeping, especially at night, as the noise triggers a “jerk reaction”.

“Whereas loud noise that would reach to high decibels is dangerous to one’s health, hearings and also generates suffering from the disease,” reads the proposed ordinance.

Why do vehicle owners replace have their mufflers modified, anyway?

Dungog said, “Ang purpose sa pagpailis gusto sila’g saba, nindot kuno og tingog.” 

Residents in the city are not allowed to modify their motorcycles, vehicles, and tricycles to emit noise in excess of 80 decibels.

City Legal Officer Ethelbert Ouano said 80 decibels is twice as loud as the ideal level of 70 decibels. Seventy decibels is the level comparable to the noise produced by television.

Frank Brazil, chief of City Traffic Management Systems, said motorists with vehicles with modified mufflers often use inner roads and not the major thoroughfares.

“Gara-gara raman gud na ang mga batan-on gud,” Brazil said.

He said barangay officials can deputize personnel to issue citation tickets to those who will violate the ordinance once it is approved. He said a noise meter would also help and the city government can provide this.

Based on the proposal, the fine for the first offense is P1,000 while the fine of the second offense is P3,000. The license of the offender may also be confiscated in the second offense. For the third offense, the vehicle owner will be fined P5,000 and may face imprisonment. The license would also be confiscated.

A motorcycle dealer from Barangay Pajo who requests anonymity supports the proposal.

“Tinuod man sad ang gisulti ni councilor (Dungog) kay makadisturbo man gyud tungod sa kasaba sa mufflers. Dili man sad tanan namaligya og mufflers nga mu-emit og kusog nga tingog… naa ma pud namaligya og mufflers sa sakto nga specifications. In our case, naa mi pero old stock na,” he said.

 Ouano said dealers of vehicles who will violate the ordinance may also face penalties.

 “When operating a modified muffler, above the mandated standard, then they can be liable,” Ouano said. (FREEMAN)