Residents struggling to sleep or work because of late-night karaoke and other loud disturbances may soon see stricter citywide regulations.
Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña has proposed a 24-hour anti-noise policy, expanding the enforcement of Cebu City’s existing ordinance to cover the entire day. Each sitio may declare a single “exception day,” such as during fiestas, subject to community guidelines.
“We are going to enforce the anti-noise ordinance. There is a need for people to learn that the city needs discipline, and this will help everybody,” Osmeña said on Thursday, January 22.
The proposal comes after complaints from residents, including remote workers, who say persistent noise—particularly from karaoke sessions continuing into the early morning—has disrupted their work and daily life.
“How can they feed their family if there are people who keep singing karaoke even at 2 a.m.?” Osmeña said.
Under the plan, enforcement would be continuous, but exceptions would be decided through public hearings to hear feedback from residents, barangay officials, and other stakeholders.
Barangay officials would also be held accountable, with fines and other penalties for failing to act on violations.
The proposal is pending deliberation and approval by the Cebu City Council.
Existing ordinance
Currently, the city enforces the Amended Anti-Noise Ordinance (Ordinance No. 309), which limits noise to 40 decibels from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Violators may face fines of up to P5,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months.
Osmeña said the new proposal is designed to complement existing local and national regulations, including standards from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and to respond to changing conditions such as the rise of remote work and online learning. (LLP)
