Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES »” F

Quezon City, Metro Manila j a ars
- Ti: 1
Sixteenth Congress

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4942

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a fact that many Filipinos lack simple road courtesy, tooting
the horns of their vehicles at the slightest source of irritation, real or
imagined, Some of them do not realize that their noisy impatience would
not improve traffic congestion a whit. Worse, drivers of public utility
vehicles actual impede the smooth flow of traffic by stopping at certain
road points longer than allowed by the rules and honking their horns
continuously in order to attract passengers. It is not far-fetched to say that
the almost pathological blowing of horns on the part of some drivers is a
precursor to murderous or homicidal road rage.

All of the above mentioned practi contribute to the over-all
noise pollution in our country. The sensitivity of the human eardrums to
noise is true not only in school and hospital zones but elsewhere as well.
The state must take earnest steps to reduce the incidence of deafness
among our people which is brought about in part by persistent exposure
to inordinate levels of high decibels of noise.

This bill selects one day in the week as a “no busina day”. In
essence, this proposed legislation is no different from “car-less days” in
certain countries or our very own number coding scheme, all of which are
exercises of the police power of the state to promote the general welfare.
If we look at it, the institution of car-less days is an even more radical
approach towards smoke and noise pollution. Hence, if the latter practice
is constitutionally defensible, we could, in the same breath, affirm that a
one-day ban against the tooting of horns would easily stand the test of
constitutional scrutiny.

The choice of Sunday as the horn tooting-free day is perhaps
auspicious considering that, in our mostly Christian communities, it is on



that day that houses of worship are occupied for the members’ mostly
solemn religious activities.

In view of the foregoing premises, the early consideration and
passage of this bill into law are earnestly requested.

LUCY /PORRES: EZ
Repregéntative
Fourth District of Leyte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BELL NO. _4542

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Torres-Gomez

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING EVERY SUNDAY AS A “NO BUSINA DAY”,
PROHIBITING FOR THE PURPOSE HORN TOOTING
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Prohibited act, ~ With the exception of drivers of
ambulances and other vehicles carrying persons requiring immediate
medical attention, fire trucks, police patrol cars, military vehicles and in
emergency situations, drivers of all public and private vehicles
throughout the country are hereby prohibited from toting the horns of

their vehicles every Sunday.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the

following terms or phrases shall be understood to mean as follows:

(a) Horn Tooting — refers to the unnecessary blowing of horns or
the act of blowing the horn continuously, or when there is more than a

single or a short sound of the horn;


(b) Emergency Situation — refers to situations needing immediate

attention, such as but not limited to the following:

[1] where, inside the vehicle, there is a person who is seriously ill,

about to give birth, or in analogous conditions; and

[2] where the driver toots the vehicle’s horn to sound an alarm, or
during an actual emergency to avoid imminent harm or injury against

persons or property;

SEC. 3. Penalties. - Any driver who violates this Act shall be
penalized with a fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) per offense which
shall be paid at the nearest branch of the Land Transportation Office

(LTO).

SEC. 4. Repealing clause. - All acts, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent

with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended.

SEC. 5. Effectivity clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper

of general circulation.

Approved,

me