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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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SENt~42 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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. 
Noise or Sound Pollution refers to any exposure of people or animals to sound levels that 
are annoying, stressful, or damaging to a person's ears. Although loud and frightening sounds are 
part of nature, only in recent decades has much of the world become urban, industrial, and 
chronically noisy. 
Sound intensity is measured in units called decibels. In the wilderness, an ordinary sound 
level would be 35 decibels. Speech runs 65 to 70 decibels; heavy traffic generates 90 decibels. 
By 140 decibels, sound gets intolerable and painful to the human ear, but the harmful effects, 
including loss of hearing, set in at much lower levels. 
Most noise pollution comes from machines, especially trucks, automobiles, and aircraft. 
Construction' equipment, farm machines, and the din of machinery inside factories can be 
dangerously loud. Some home appliances, shop tools, lawnmowers, and leaf blowers can also be 
noisy, as are guns, firecrackers, and some toys. Even music, when played at very high volumes, 
particularly through personal headphones, is as damaging to the ears as a roaring chain saw. 
The most significant health problem caused by noise pollution is hearing loss. Any noise 
appreciably louder than talking can damage the delicate hair cells in the cochlea, the structure in 
the inner ear that converts sound waves into auditory nerve signals. The initial damage to the 
cochlea may be temporary, but with repeated exposure, the damage becomes permanent. Loud 
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nOIse deafens quickly-extremely loud sounds, such as gunshots at close range, can cause 
immediate hearing loss. But even sound levels of only 85 decibels will cause some hearing loss 
after prolonged exposure. Damage to the ear can also cause tinnitus. Even at levels below those 
that cause hearing loss, noise pollution produces problems. Noise causes difficulty in 
conversations, it interferes with sleep and negatively impacts certain kinds of work. As a source 
of stress, it can promote high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, as well as 
nervous disorders. 
This bill seeks to address the problem of noise pollution in residential areas by regulating 
the repairs of vehicles in residential areas. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~1:E 
S. No. 1,,42 
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. 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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REGULATING THE USE OF POWERED EQUIPMENT 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 "Vehicle Repair Noise 
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Regulation Act." 
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SECTION 2. Regulation of the repairs of motor vehicles. - It shall be unlawful for any 
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person, within any residential property located within any residential zone of the City or within 
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500 feet thereof, to repair, rebuild, reconstruct or dismantle any motor vehicle between the hours 
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of 8:00 p.m. of one day and 8:00 a.m. of the next day in such manner: 
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(a) That a reasonable person residing in the area is caused discomfort or annoyance; 
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(b) That such activity is audible to the human ear at a distance in excess of 150 feet from 
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the prope'1Y line of the noise source; 
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(c) As to create any noise which would cause the noise level on the premises of any 
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occupied residential property, or if a condominium, apartment house or duplex, within any 
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adjoining unit, to exceed the ambient noise level by more than five (5) decibels. 
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SECTION 3. Penalties. - Any person found to violate this Act shall be fined P5,000.00. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act 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, 
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