NEWS

DILG urges LGUs to enact ordinances prohibiting videoke, distracting noises during online class schedules

October 7, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to enact ordinances prohibiting videoke and other loud, distracting noises during online class schedules as millions of students adjust to the blended learning system as a measure against COVID-19.

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that loud sounds during online class hours and independent study periods can distract pupils and students alike from concentrating on their online classes, schoolwork, and other activities now that every home in the country has been turned into an extension of the school.

“Bilang mga disiplinado at responsableng mga magulang at mamamayan, tulungan natin ang ating mga estudyante na mabigyan ng tahimik at payapa na kapaligiran para sila ay makapag-aral ng mabuti sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan,” Año said.

Año made this announcement in support to the directive by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan to unit commanders and chiefs of police to “to coordinate with their respective LGUs to either enact or modify their existing local ordinances against the use of videoke and other activities that create unnecessary noise that would disturb the students in their study at home.”

Año emphasized that it is already hard enough for students to adjust from normal classroom sessions to distance and blended learning without being distracted by the noise coming from the neighborhood.

He likewise urged vehicle owners to avoid unnecessary blowing of their car horns during school hours as these will also distract the learners.

Aside from videoke parties, the DILG Chief also urged LGUs to ban noisy illegal gambling activities like tupada, bingo, betting stations, drinking sprees, and other forms of loud noises to avoid disturbing students and to prevent mass gatherings that maybe lead to community transmission of the COVID-19 virus.

The DILG chief added that “security, safety, and other measures that the PNP used to implement for the schools should be expanded to include the entire barangay as part of the expanded learning space amid the continued threat of COVID-19.”

In line with this, students are still prohibited from going to computer shops to avoid disturbance from users playing noisy computer games.