FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
1 t) .n 19 AlO:55 
SEN.t~3 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santi'ago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The Constitution, Article II, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
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Noise pollution includes any displeasing man or machine-made sound that disrupts the 
activity or balance of human or animal life. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that 
people die prematurely from heart disease triggered by long-term exposure to excessive noise. 
Coronary heart disease caused 101,000 deaths in the United Kingdom in 2006, and the study 
suggests that 3,030 of these are caused by chronic noise exposnre. Deepak Prasher, a professor of 
audiology at the University College London, told the New Scientist magazine that the new data 
provide the link showing there are earlier deaths because of noise. The WHO's working group on 
the Noise Environmental Burden on Disease began work on the health effects of noise in Europe 
in 2003. 
In addition to the heart disease link, it found that 2% of Enropeans suffer severely 
disturbed sleep because of noise pollution and 15% can suffer severe aunoyance. Chronic 
exposure to loud noise causes 3% of tinnitus cases, in which people constantly hear a ringing in 
their ears. Research published in recent years showed that noise can increase the amounts of 
stress hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol and noradrenalin in the body. This can increase even 
during sleep. The longer these ho=ones stay in circulation around the bloodstream, the more 
probable they are to cause life-threatening physiological problems. High levels of stress can 
contribute to heart failure, high blood pressure, strokes, and immune problems. 
(1) 


The WHO came to its figures by comparing households with abnormally high exposure 
to noise with those in quieter homes. It also studied cases of people with problems such as 
coronary heart disease and tried to work out if high noise levels had been a factor in acquiring 
the problem. This data was then joined with maps indicating the noisiest cities in Europe. Noise 
cmmot directly kill, but it may add to a person's stress. There are cases when stressful events can 
trigger a heart attack in someone with underlying heart disease. Stressed people are more likely 
to eat unhealthily, exercise less and smoke more, and these can increase the risk of developing 
heart disease in the first place. A major cause of noise levels is the use of powered equipment in 
residential areas where homes and residents are not equipped to deal with the increased noise 
levels particularly at nighttime. 
This bill seeks to address the problem of noise pollution in residential areas by regulating 
the use of powered equipment. 1 
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" This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
(2) 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
·;t '. If: 
OI'ACE OF 'X, ,f S1!C~i:l'At{Y 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
JIJL 19 A1D:55 
SENAU\ 
S.No. 1033 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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REGULATING THE USE OF POWERED EQUIPMENT 
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IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Powered Equipment Noise 
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Regulation Act." 
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SECTION 2. Regulation of the use of powered equipment intended for repetitive use. -
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Between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, no person shall operate any 
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lawn mower, backpack blower, lawn edger, riding tractor, or any other machinery, equipment, or 
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other mechanical or electrical device, or any hand tool which creates a loud, raucous or 
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impulsive sound, within any residential zone or within 500 feet of a residence. 
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SECTION 3. Penalties. - Any person found to violate this Act shall be fined P5,000.OO. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
IS 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Ac( is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
(1)