Dealing with the underrated pollution

Joseph Carlo
Sep 3, 2018 · 3 min read

Since man has become desperate to progress, we forgot that progress has its consequences. The industry growth brought us environmental pollutants that we already learnt to live with. Noise pollution is thus another pollutant that we cannot escape in our daily lives. From the jeepney we ride every day to the barking dogs that greet us when we walk along our streets, noise pollutants clearly are evident everywhere.

We may not totally eliminate noise pollution but there are many ways to minimize it. One way is through implementation of ordinances. Through this, the government can make people cooperate in controlling it.

CITY ORDINANCES

As a developing city, the increasing number of vehicles is a significant contributor to the noise pollution in Tarlac City. In 2014, ex-City Mayor Ace Manalang passed a local ordinance mandating the use of mufflers or silencers to vehicles that produce loud sound while in operation. The Ordinance No. 01–015, otherwise known as the Motorized Tricycle and Motorcycle Mufflers or Silencers Ordinance, was one of the major efforts done by the city government to control noise pollution. It was ignored by most drivers and operators during the first months which provoked the city mayor then to order a stricter implementation and to warn those who will be disobedient of the ordinance.

As of this year, it is still observed within the main roads of the city although several motorists are unaware that such ordinance exists. A lack of city-wide announcement probably is the reason why many citizens do not follow this regulation. The implementation must not be the only concern of the city government but also the dissemination of the information throughout the entire city. If these local ordinances are going to be passed, every one must know them as well as the offenses they comprise.

There is also an existing ordinance in Tarlac City, known as the Zoning Ordinance, which presents appropriate standards for noise levels restriction. It mandates that no equipment or process must be used in home occupation which creates noise exceeding the audible interference the normal senses can endure. The restriction is based on the location, zoning, and land use classification.

BARANGAY ORDINANCES

On the other hand, Barangay San Rafael, one of the most populated barangays in Tarlac City, also shows its commitment to reduce noise pollution. Although not formally passed as an ordinance, there is an order in our barangay pertaining to the use of karaoke, a popular pastime to Filipinos. According to a barangay worker, the use of karaoke must only be limited until midnight. This is due to several fights emerged in the neighborhood caused by the excessive use of karaoke which is frequently used overnight at high volume.

The intolerant leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, moreover, may be the inspiration of our current barangay administration to create a new order that was not observed before by the past administrations — a curfew for any people who prompt nuisance by making loud noise during evenings especially when they are intoxicated. This has been a common episode in our barangay that always leads to brawls which is why an order is now observed to prevent this occurrence.

Through these orders, a peaceful community can be maintained and it will also promote discipline among the people in our barangay. However, many of us in San Rafael are not well-informed about these orders that causes us failure to obey. Again, a proper dissemination of information is a factor to consider by those in authority.

I live in a place where there’s no escape from noise pollution and like most people in our barangay, never I had recognized it as a serious threat. Fortunately, our local government units have their ways to alleviate it. I never valued the effort the authority exerts in fighting against noise pollution, not until now I realized that the ordinances they pass act as a barrier between us and the negative effects of this pollution.

There may be more critical issues to look upon before emphasizing the risk of noise pollutants, but we must not underestimate the consequences they may bring us. We have our choice — either we follow the established ordinances now or we wait for the time when noise pollution critically affects our quality of life.

Joseph Carlo

Written by

It’s my personal storage drive.