House panel tackles bill vs late night karaoke sessions

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on public order and safety has started deliberations on a bill prohibiting karaoke singing in residential areas from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Under the bill, violators will be ordered to pay a fine of P1,000 or imprisonment of not more than six months. The business permits of establishments that will repeatedly violate the measure will be revoked.

“This bill…prevents environmental noise that perniciously affects the health and safety of people. It is a novel measure insofar as it is being proposed at the level of national legislation,” Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, author of House Bill 1035, said in her sponsorship speech on Tuesday.

Tan, a doctor by profession, said the use of karaoke and other amplifying systems should be regulated as it causes unnecessary disturbance to the public.

She said noise interferes with sleep, creates a negative impact on certain types of work and promotes high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems as well as nervous disorders.

“One major source of noise in residential areas…is the use of karaoke systems. …Many residents or groups have been  accustomed to utilizing the streets,” Tan said.

Shortly after his election, President Duterte said local ordinances should be passed banning late night and loud karaoke sessions.

When Duterte was mayor of Davao City, an ordinance was passed imposing a karaoke ban starting at 10 p.m.