Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan, Cebu is heightening its crackdown on modified mufflers, which have been the subject of complaints from residents because of the noise they produce.

Its City Traffic Management System (CTMS) will launch enforcement operations with the Committee on Transportation of the City Council after it received at least 20 decibel meters from the city government.

A decibel meter is an electronic instrument authorities use to measure the intensity of sound in decibels.

CTMS personnel tested the decibel meters immediately in line with the provision in Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) on modified mufflers.

Using a 36-inch folder shaped into a triangle to measure the required 0.5-meter distance and 45-degree angle, CTMS personnel tested the sound levels of the mufflers of two motorcycles – a scooter with an original muffler and another motorcycle that uses a modified muffler.

CTMS chief Mario Napule said all traffic enforcers will be trained properly on how to operate the decibel meters.

“Among gisuwayan katong 45 degrees nga angle epektibo gyud siya. I think magamit namo puhon kung naa nami operations,” Napule said.

ORDINANCE

Enforcement of policies will just be as good as the policy being implemented, which is why Napule said he plans to coordinate with Councilor Joseph Pangatungan, chair of the Committee on Transportatioin, so that the city’s 2016 Anti-bora-bora Ordinance can be amended.

Under the existing ordinance, motor vehicles are prohibited from using exhaust systems that emit noise exceeding 80 decibels at a distance of 10 meters. However, under the national law, particularly Republic Act 4136, the allowable noise limit is 99 decibels.

“Siguro dili sa mi karon mag-operation but siguro mag-agad sa mi sa unsa nga ordinansa nga itakdo gyud sa national law kay lisod man sad og magka-conflict ba,” Napule said.

Under the city’s ordinance, violators face a P1,000 fine for the first offense, a P3,000 fine and confiscation of the driver’s license for the second offense, and a P5,000 fine and confiscation of the driver’s license for the third offense.

DEPUTIZATION

At present, however, CTMS has no personnel deputized by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Napule said it is better if their personnel are deputized properly by LTO so that they, themselves, can issue citation tickets to violators.

“Mas maayo gyud nga deputized ang atong mga traffic enforcer para pananglitan mag-operation na ta aning mga bora-bora, kay actually, daghan na kaayo reklamo ani kanang saba,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) deputy city director for operations, Lt. Col. Ardioleto Cabagnot, said they have since requested the LTO to conduct a deputization seminar for personnel of the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU).

The TEU personnel are also among those who received the 20 decibel meters provided by the city government.

“Og unsay possible nga violation nga pwede namo ihatag through citation kay sa pagkakaron man gyud di pa mi gud mi kahatag og TOP considering nga wa pa gyud mi makuani ug deputization gikan sa LTO,” Cabagnot said.

The City Treasurer’s Office will also use the decibel meters provided to the office to measure noise levels whenever complaints are filed against noisy business establishments.