FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S~ No. 
1858 
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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 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. 
The WHO's working group on the Noise Environmental Burden on Disease began work on the 
health effects of noise in Europe in 2003. It was found that that 2% of the population of Europe 
suffers severely disturbed sleep because of noise pollution and 15% can suffer severe annoyance. 
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 hormones 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. 
Noise cannot 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. 
(1) 


A major cause of noise levels is the use of vehicle theft alarm systems that emit a very 
loud alarm upon being triggered. Some systems do not stop without being disabled by their 
owner. This can cause severe noise pollution more so if the alarm goes off during nighttime. 
This bill seeks to address the problem of noise pollution caused by vehicle theft alarm 
systems that do not automatically stop after a given period. l 
I This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session 
(2) 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1 aS8 
i:., 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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REGULATING THE USE OF VEHICLE THEFT ALARM SYSTEMS 
• 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Vehicle Theft Alarm Systems 
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Regulation Act." 
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SECTION 2. Regulation of the use of vehicle theft alarm systems. - It shall be unlawful 
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for any person to install, operate or use any vehicle theft alarm system that emits or causes the 
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emission of an audible sound, which is not, or does not become, automatically and completely 
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silenced within five minutes. The time period shall be calculated based upon the emission of the 
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first audible sound and shall end five minutes thereafter notwithstanding any variation or 
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stoppage in the emissions of audible sound. 
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SECTION 3. Penalties. - Any person found to violate this Act shall be fined P5,OOO.OO. 
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SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, a~ministrative 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) newspap.ers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
(1)