City Council asked: Help solve “noise pollution” in Sapangdaku

CEBU, Philippines – Some residents of Barangay Sapangdaku, Cebu City are asking the city government to take action on the “perennial noise pollution” in their barangay.

Concerned residents in sitio Lupa were forced to bring the matter before the city government because of the alleged inaction of the barangay officials on the problem.

“We, the residents of Barangay Sapangdaku particularly in Sitio Lupa believed that the local government of this barangay, under the leadership of Barangay Captain Lorna Damalerio, is not doing its best to control the loud deafening sound produced by videoke shanties, parked PUJ vehicles with large sound systems, disco mobile speakers, as well as unregistered unlicensed (sic) habal-habal with large mufflers,” the letter of the residents read.

The residents addressed their letter to Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella. The letter would be part of the agenda of the City Council’s regular session on January 7, 2015.

The residents said that “noise pollution has been a cancer in the barangay,” adding that they need the intervention of the city government since the barangay has failed to solve it.

There are “observable violations neglected by the barangay”, they claimed. They identified the violations; the volume of these deafening noise violated the 40 decibels limit, videoke operators and disco mobile operators have no business permit, manufacture of disco mobile speakers lack soundproofing standards, habal-habal motorcycles are not registered (mostly have minors and unlicensed drivers), habal-habal motorcycles have large mufflers and built in speakers.”

“Most of the noise also comes from a rented vacant lot in Sitio Lupa owned by the Chua’s and Atillo’s that were made into the ff: PUJ yards by an operator, small videoke shanties, disco area during weekends, motor cross organized by the barangays, sound speaker manufacturing area, or simply a convergence of illegal activities of minors left unchecked by the barangay tanods,” the letter further read.

Residents are hoping for the immediate action of the city government on the alleged “noise pollution”. They said that it is their constitutional right to live and sleep in peace and quiet place. — (FREEMAN)