THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Davao Region is calling all different local government units (LGU) and barangays in the region to pass and enforce ordinances that would ban videoke sessions and other loud activities that can disrupt online classes of students.
DILG-Davao Director Alex Roldan said the DILG had issued a directive urging LGUs to enact ordinances prohibiting videoke and other distracting noises during online classes since the majority of the students are studying from home, as part of the blended learning system.
Roldan said prohibiting videoke during class hours is reasonable since loud sounds can hinder students from their online classes, schoolwork, and other activities.
LGUs with existing ordinances related to this are reminded to enforce it on the ground, the DILG official said. Barangays are also reminded to enforce these ordinances within their communities.
"Dapat ang mga barangay, aktibo karon sa pagpatuman niini because we are in a situation nga gi-adjust nato ang mga schedule sa mga bata pinaagi sa pag-eskwela (Barangays should be active in enforcing this because we are in a situation wherein students are adjusting to the schedule of their classes). We need to coordinate," Roldan said in a phone interview.
Roldan said the students are currently struggling with the "new normal" classroom setup within their homes due to the poor internet connectivity.
He added that it would be an additional burden to be distracted by the noise coming from the neighborhood.
"Ang mando sa [DILG] secretary is to activate ang pag-implement sa mga local ordinances kay almost all barangay sa tibuok Pilipinas, dunay ordinansa niana, pero wala pa nila gi-implementar (Our DILG Secretary mandated all LGUs to implement their respective local ordinances, considering all barangays in the country have its own respective ordinances, but not implemented)," Roldan said.
The DILG official emphasized that the directive is not only limited to videokes and that any noise produced by loudspeakers or appliances that can be distracting can be considered grounds for violation.
Parents and students are encouraged to file complaints against their neighbors who will be violating this order to the barangays for appropriate action.
Roldan, in jest, reminded the public to refrain from having karaokes or playing loud sound systems at this point.
"Kamong mga walay gipangbuhat diha, pwede man gihapon mo manganta og kusog, pero butangig headphone para kamo ra makadungog sa inyong siyagit (They can still sing at the top of their lungs at home but just wear a headphone, so that it will only be you who can hear yourself shouting)," he said.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in response to the DILG mandate, issued Executive Order 55, wherein videoke and karaoke in public venues and establishments that do not have a business permit to operate as a videoke, karaoke or sing-along place shall be prohibited to operate their equipment 24 hours a day.
For private establishments, all videoke and karaoke inside private property shall be prohibited from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day. The purok leader can require police assistance at any time of the day to turn off a videoke/karaoke, if the sound volume has become disruptive to the neighbors of the owner of the machine/equipment.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the city already enforced the Anti-Nuisance Ordinance, regulating the use of videoke machines and other sound-producing devices. It was crafted after receiving complaints generated by videoke. Thus, making loud and unnecessary, or annoying and irritating noises produced by megaphones, amplifiers, DVD players, stereos, loud speakers, radio and/or any sound system is not allowed.
Meanwhile, Cheska Dujali, a senior high school student, said studying from home is a struggle since her residence is a congested area.
Dujali said since the classes resumed last week, there are times that she cannot hear her teacher despite wearing headphones due to the loud noises from her neighbors, who play music or other kinds of entertainment over their sound system too loud.
Her parents already reported this to the barangay, but she said her neighbor seems unfazed.
"Unta tagaan pa nila'g ngipon ni nga balaod. Wala sila respeto para sa mga estudyante nga naglisod na karong panahuna (I hope that they would strengthen the implementation of the local laws. These people are not only disturbing us, but they are also disrespecting us considering we are already struggling with the current setup)," Dujali said in a phone interview.
