EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. B. No.
SENATE
723
o( tl)<’ Afcrrtnrif
*19 
JUL 24 All :31
RECciv.DlTY:../!^___
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES WITHOUT MUFFLERS OR 
THOSE THAT ARE DEFECTIVE OR HAVE BEEN MODIFIED WHICH INCREASE 
THE SOUND EMITTED BY MOTOR VEHICLES, PENALIZING OWNERS AND 
DRIVERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO NOISE POLLUTION IN  THE
ENVIRONMENT
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Now that the traffic in Metro Manila, has already necessitated the call for an 
emergency power exercise, the concomitant noise emitted by motor vehicles just 
adds to the ordeal that our citizens has to go through every day.
The steady increase of our population continues to trigger the environmental 
hazards of pollution, sad to say that the plague of "noise pollution" has never had 
any definite national policy nor regulation for control. Lumped in the general concept 
of air pollution, the dangers of noise pollution has been ignored or underestimated.
A World Health Organization (WHO) report has suggested that noise -  
defined as an "unwanted sound" can affect human health and well-being, including 
annoyance 
reaction, 
sleep 
disturbance, 
interference 
with 
communication, 
performance effects, and effects on social behavior. It further states that exposure 
to noise levels at or above 80 decibels has been medically proven to cause


permanent hearing loss. This exposure to noise has also been associated with 
changes in blood pressure, other cardiovascular changes, problems with the 
digestive system and general fatigue.
According to a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the 
growing noise pollution can be attributed to a large part from the millions of two­
wheeled vehicles thundering through our streets and neighborhoods. The study goes 
to show that the tailpipe noise emitted by tricycles produce noise levels as high as 
97 decibels, way too loud for the national standard of 60 decibels during daytime 
and 50 decibels during nighttime in a residential area.
Motor vehicles with modified mufflers are very distracting and can cause 
accidents since they overpower traffic sounds such as automobile horns and traffic 
enforcer whistles. Further, loud muffler noise agitate drivers as it affects hearing, 
vision, reaction time and judgment thereby increasing the risk of danger for 
everyone on the road.
This bill seeks to regulate the use of mufflers, those that are missing, 
defective and their modifications that increases the sound emitted by a motor 
vehicles, contributing to noise pollution, penalizing owners and drivers that 
contribute to the sound that exacerbate noise pollution to our environment.
In view of the foregoing, passage of this legislations is eaipestly sought.
ALIAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. B. No.
SENATE
723
1 0  
& r a « 2
of II). *>r-r»urp
•19 JUL 24 All :31
RECclvi 0 BY
Introduced by SEN. SHERWIN T. GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE USE OF MOTOR VEHICLES WITHOUT MUFFLERS 
OR THOSE THAT ARE DEFECTIVE OR HAVE BEEN MODIFIED WHICH 
INCREASE THE SOUND EMITTED BY MOTOR VEHICLES, PENALIZING 
OWNERS AND DRIVERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO NOISE POLLUTION
IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
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SEC. 1. Short Title. This act shall be known as "Muffler Act o f 2019".
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SEC. 2. D efinition o f Terms:
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a. Decibel -  refers to a measure of sound level and is equal to 10
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times the logarithim of the square of a measured sound pressure
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level (SPL) divided by a reference sound pressure.
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b. Emission -  refers to any measurable air contaminant, pollutant, gas
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stream or unwanted sound from a known source which is passed
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into the atmosphere.


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c. Motorcycle -  refers to any two-wheeled motor vehicle with at least 
one headlight, taillight and stoplight, and one or more saddle seats. 
For purposes of this Act, the term shall likewise include motorcycles 
to which are attached cars, commonly known as "tricycles".
d. Motor Vehicle -  refers to any vehicle propelled by gasoline engine 
or by any means other than human or animal power constructed 
and operated principally for the conveyance of persons or the 
transportation of 
goods in a public highway or street open for 
public use.
e. Muffler -  refers to a device that reduces the noise from the exhaust 
of an internal combustion engine.
f. Modified Muffler -  refers to a devise attached to a motor vehicle on 
which a sound booster and other sound emitting devise is installed 
in order to increase noise and for other purposes.
g. Noise -  refers to any unnecessary, erratic, discordant loud or 
blaring sound which annoy, disturb, distract or offend the senses
h. Noise Pollution -  refers to the emission of loud, excessive, 
disturbing, unhealthy sound amplification devices or equipment 
and/or other sources of sound such as, but not limited to 
commercial, industrial and construction activities, vehicle exhaust, 
mufflers, animal noise, and noise produced by human beings such 
as loud conversation and laughter and found to exceed the normal 
allowable decibel ratio.
i. 
Nuisance -  refers to anything that injures health, endangers life, 
offends the senses or produces discomfort to the community.
j. 
Unnecessary Noise -  refers to any unusually loud sound that 
annoys, disturbs, or endangers the health, peace, safety and


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comfort of a person or causes injury or harm to human beings and
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animals alike.
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SEC. 3. Declaration o f Policy. -  The protection of the health and
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well-being of the members of the community should be the primordial
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concern of our society, hence, it is imperative that rules are laid down and
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observed to protect them from the dangers of prolonged exposure to noise
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pollution by unregulated use of motor vehicles which by reason of lack of
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maintenance, deliberate tampering or inappropriate use, has missing,
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defective, or modified mufflers emitting loud and unnecessary noise disturbing
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the peace and harmony of nature.
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Acts that endanger the environment from further degradation and
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those that are discordant with a balanced and healthful development should
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be controlled and abated. Operators and owners of motor vehicles should be
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made responsible for ensuring that noise from their vehicles is kept within
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reasonable levels.
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SEC. 4. Mufflers and Noise Controlling Devices. -  No motor
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vehicles shall be allowed to be driven or operated without having been
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properly equipped, at all times, with either a muffler or any noise dissipative
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device in constant operation and of sufficient capacity to its motor engine to
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prevent the escape of excessive and disturbing noise.
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Noise control should include both the exhaust system and engine
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components of a motor vehicle.
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SEC. 5. M o d ifie d  a n d  D efective M uffler. -  No motor vehicle,
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motorcycle, motorbike, scooter, tricycle whether for private or public use shall
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likewise use any modified muffler, sound booster or any device that will
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increase the noise of said vehicle or emit a sound of more than seventy (70)
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decibels.


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Any owner or operator of a motor vehicle who has caused or permitted
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a vehicle to be used when its muffler or noise control equipment is defective
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or not securely in place shall likewise be liable under this Act.
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SEC. 6. Reasonable Level/Decibel Standard. -  Exhaust noise
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should not exceed the maximum prescribed level of seventy (70) decibels.
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SEC. 7. Exception. -  Motor vehicles not utilized for transport of goods 
and people but are merely used for sports competition, motor shows and 
similar endeavors are hereby exempted from this Act.
SEC. 
8. 
Noise Pollution Emission 
Testing. 
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The 
Land 
Transportation Office (LTO) shall conduct noise pollution testing upon and 
during yearly registration of all motor vehicles in the country. It shall equip its 
registration centers with testing meters to measure the vehicle's noise 
standard of a maximum of seventy (70) decibels.
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Registration shall be held in abeyance pending compliance with the
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standard decibel requirement.
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SEC. 9. Penalties. -  Any person who drives a motor vehicle without a
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muffler, a defective or modified muffler, sound booster or any device that will
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increase the noise of said vehicle or emit a sound of more than seventy (70)
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decibels shall be penalized as follows:
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a. For the first offense, a fine of five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) and
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confiscation of the modified muffler or sound booster;
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b. For the second offense, a fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)
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and impoundment of the motor vehicle for a period of one (1) month;
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For succeeding offenses, a fine of fifteen thousand 
pesos
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(P15,000.00) and suspension of the driver's license of the violator for six (6)
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months.


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SEC. 10. Im plem enting Agency. -  The Land Transportation Office
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(LTO) shall be the lead government agency in implementing the provisions of
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this Act. Provided, that the LTO may deputize the Metro Manila Development
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Authority (MMDA) agents, local public safety and other officers of the LCD to
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assist in the implementation of this Act.
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LTO officers, MMDA agents, and local public safety and order officers,
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shall be equipped with a decibel meter to effectively gauge the intensity of
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loudness of a motor vehicle.
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SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount needed for the initial
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's
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appropriations of the LTO. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for
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the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General
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Appropriations Act (GAA).
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SEC. 12. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety
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(90) days upon the approval of this Act, the DOTr shall, in consultation with
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the various stakeholders, formulate the rules and regulations necessary for
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the proper implementation of this Act.
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SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - If any part, section or provision of
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this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof, not
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affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, acts, presidential decrees,
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executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts
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thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby
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amended, modified or repealed accordingly.
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SEC. 15. E ffectivity- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of
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general circulation.
Approved,