No More Indiscriminate Karaoke at Night -DILG

Urban settlers can now enjoy peaceful sleep without disturbing karaoke from neighborhood at night as the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to roll the Safer Cities initiative in Metro Manila.

DILG secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla, in a recent press conference in Quezon City, warned that as a part of the initiative, the Philippine National Police (PNP), in partnership with barangay officials, will apprehend residents engaging in indiscriminate karaoke at 10:00 P.M. onwards.

“Alam ko ang lahat ng Pilipino mahilig kumanta. Maraming magaling kumanta. Masarap kumanta basta lalo na [kasama ang] barkada, pero maawa naman kayo sa kapwa n’yo at hayaan n’yo namang matulog,” said Remulla.

“‘Pag alas d’yes nag-vi-videoke [karaoke] pa kayo, o kapitbahay n’yo nag-vi-videoke, tumawag po kayo sa 911 at pupuntahan po ng pulis ‘yan at patitigilin,” added he.

The DILG chief gave exceptions to the prohibition, which include social gatherings issued with barangay permits.

“Maliban, bigyan natin ng exception, kung fiesta, may barangay permit, nagkakasayahan. Do’n baka pwede pa,” Remulla informed.

[Except, let’s give an exception, during fiesta, with barangay permit, people are merrymaking. That may be allowed.”]

During the question-and-answer portion of the conference, National Capital Regional Police Office MGen. Anthony Aberin, however, clarified that residents may still seek the cessation of such noisy gatherings from 10:00 P.M. onwards upon voicing out a complaint through the 911 hotline.

“Yung PNP, just the same, ‘pag may reklamo, pinupuntahan natin. Pero kung walang reklamo, tino-tolerate natin kasi nga fiesta. Pero the moment na may tawag na from 911 at kami ay pina-responde . . . pipuntahan natin at sinasabihan natin kahit may fiesta,” explained Aberin.

[The PNP, just the same, acts if there is a complaint. If no complaints exist, it tolerates [the noise] because there is a fiesta. The moment that a complaint is lodged through 911, however, and the police is ordered to respond, it proceeds [to the area] and asks people to stop the noise.”]

The DILG’s Safer Cities initiative undertakes to eradicate unwanted incidents in urban areas via increased deployment of policemen in such places, particularly in people-convergence sites. It rolls first in Metro Manila and will eventually extend to other urban regions throughout the country.

The PNP will partner with barangay officials in implementing the program.

Other specific activities involved in the Safer Cities initiative are prohibition of street liquor drinking and shirtless presence in public spaces, and curfew crackdown.