Since there is no law against noise pollution in the Philippines, it is no wonder that our towns and cities are probably among noisiest in the world.
When it comes to noise pollution, the number one culprit would probably be the videoke and karaoke joints that can be found all over the country. Number two would probably be the obnoxious motorcycle exhaust pipes.
But if you come to think of it, the real number one culprit as far as noise pollution in the country is concerned would probably our collective attitude towards noise because it seems that Filipinos actually love noise and being noisy, which would provide a logical explanation why we still don’t have laws against noise pollution in this country.
Another reason why nobody gives a damn about noise pollution is that most of our legislators probably live in exclusive gated villages where uptight and social climbing neighbors make sure that noise is never a problem.
But if you do give it a little more thought, it would seem that Filipinos have an unhealthy obsession with noise. Aside from the karaoke bars and motorcycle exhaust pipes, there are so many other sources of noise pollution all around us. Department stores and jeepneys seem to think that the one with the loudest speakers can get the most customers. Even when it comes to regular conversation, you can always spot (or hear) a group of Filipinos from a mile away, especially when in a foreign country. I guess we are just a naturally noisy and boisterous bunch.
It may seem hopeless, but over the past few years there have been slight improvements as far as awareness against noise pollution and it is starting to look like we do not necessarily have to live with noise pollution for the rest of our lives.
Local government units are already cracking down on noisy exhaust pipes, one of the most annoying sources of noise pollution in this universe. That is a good thing and hopefully local executives and law enforcers keep that up.
As for karaoke and videoke bars, I don’t know if more people are starting to complain and officials are paying attention, but there seems to be some improvement and regulation when it comes to the noise they generate. It’s not consistent, and we don’t know who can get away with it and who cannot, but at least there has been a reduction from that particular source of noise pollution.
The biggest problem with Pinoy-style videoke is that most establishments that offer it are open-air affairs that, while good for COVID prevention, allow most of the noise they generate to pollute their surroundings. With no walls to contain the noise being generated by these drunken bouts of vocal madness, anyone who lives within a hundred meters of any establishment equipped with a videoke machine will probably have to deal with noise pollution multiple times a week. With neither local ordinances nor national laws regulating this activity, videoke-powered noise pollution is a constant threat for the peace of mind of those who don’t live inside gated villages.
Banning the videoke is impossible in this country, but surely there are ways to reduce the noise they generate. The most obvious solution would be to seal the noise inside air-conditioned rooms, but in this age of technology and engineering, there should be many creative solutions that would allow establishments to reduce the noise their drunk customers generate. Our problem is that without any laws or ordinances and the attached penalties, there is absolutely no incentive for these sources of noise pollution to be addressed.
Another reason we cannot regulate videoke bars is because our LGUs are equally guilty of producing noise pollution every time fiesta season rolls in, putting up giant walls of speakers for open-air dance parties that last well into the night. This practice has been stopped in its tracks by the coronavirus over the past few years, but now that we are “normalizing”, we can expect this budots-powered nuisance to make a noisy comeback very soon.
Was the COVID-induced break from the most common sources of noise pollution in this country enough to change our noisy culture, or will we need laws and ordinances to lower the volume and give those of us who don’t like the noise the peace of mind that we’ve been enjoying over the past 2.5 years?*
