AUTHORITIES will be lenient on New Year's Eve by allowing late-night videoke sessions or other sound-producing devices to welcome the New Year.
Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Director Senior Superintendent Michael John Dubria said Wednesday, December 28, that although there is an existing city ordinance prohibiting the public from belting their songs over the karaoke, he said that this coming New Year, DCPO will allow it given that they will also take consideration of their neighbor’s well-being.
“Just for the spirit of New Year and the Yuletide season, I think we can give some consideration for this thing at this time. So I think, pwede naman siguro nating i-consider kung wala lang complaint ma-receive ang kapulisan (we can consider if there is no complaint received from the police),” Dubria said.
Since Davao City has a firecracker and pyrotechnic ban since the Holiday season of 2001, Dabawenyos have been making use of merrymaking instruments and alternative noise makers such as torotot, car horns and kitchenware.
Thus, for this celebration, Dubria said they will allow it even beyond 9:00 p.m. to drive away evil spirits.
“I think you can also consider the videoke as one form of meeting the New Year so that the spirit of revelry will be alive,” he said.
This noise ban is part of the city’s anti-nuisance ordinance, which covers the use of other sound-producing equipment such as megaphones, amplifiers, welding machines, DVD players and stereos.
The ban on loud merrymaking in residential areas has a fine of P200 for the first offense, P1,500 for the second offense, and P2,000 for the third offense.
“I think there are always exceptions to the rule but also we must be cognizant of the needs of our neighbors or kung ano ang mga desires nila kung gusto nila ng tahimik (what their desires are, if they want a solemn) but it is also considered as a violation of the city ordinance,” Dubria said.