Last month, news about a proposed ordinance made headlines especially to motorists. The “Anti-Muffler Ordinance of Manila” aims to regulate the use of open/modified mufflers and similar devices for ALL types of vehicles, including motorcycles. It was authored by councilor, Joel “JTV” Villanueva.
Motorcycle riders expressed concern since, based on their experience, authorities apprehend and confiscate modified or open mufflers subjectively. More often than not, apprehensions are done without the proper noise measuring devices to determine if the noise level of the modified muffler exceeds the legal limits.
Councilor JTV was quick to clarify that the proposed noise regulation ordinance should cover ALL types of vehicles. He also added that only members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) and the police are allowed to flag down and apprehend the ordinance violators as long as they are equipped with a proper decibel meter. Barangay tanods are not allowed to flag down or apprehend violators.
Big bikes – motorcycles with 400cc of displacement and above, and race or show cars, are exempted from the ordinance that he penned.
Today, Manila Mayor, Isko Moreno, formally signed Ordinance No. 8772 or the Noise Regulation Ordinance of Manila. The new ordinance will regulate the use of modified muffler/ exhaust pipe and similar devices on ALL types of vehicles within the jurisdiction of Manila.
Penalties
Ordinance No. 8772 followed councilor JTV’s proposal, where violators will be fined PHP 1,000 for the first offense and removal of the modified muffler or exhaust pipe. For second-time violators, that’s PHP 3,000 plus removal of the modified muffler or exhaust pipe. A third offense will be meted with a PHP 5,000 fine plus removal of the modified muffler or exhaust pipe. The ordinance, however, did not specify whether or not the removal of the modified muffler or exhaust pipe will be confiscated in favor of the City of Manila.
The decibel limit is set at 99db taken at an engine revolution speed between 2,000 and 2,500 (RPM).
Section 9 of the said ordinance also allows the City of Manila to force the ordinance violator (2nd offense) to have his/her vehicle/motorcycle undergo the necessary repairs at one of the city’s accredited repair shops to make it noise regulation-compliant, with 100% of the repair costs shouldered by the violator.
