By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is intent on amplifying its efforts against noisy modified motorcycle mufflers.
Despite their determination, a key piece of equipment is missing—a decibel meter necessary to measure sound pressure and enforce the law.
Major Shella Mae Sangrines, the ICPO spokesperson, reported the confiscation of numerous modified mufflers in recent joint operations with the Iloilo City Traffic Management Unit (ICTMU).
“In the previous month, we have made no confiscation kay indi pa available ang decibel meter. Right now, we are using one, which is owned by ICTMU,” she explained, indicating that legal concerns have caused a pause in the crackdown.
Mayor Jerry Treñas has directed the ICPO to carry out consistent checkpoints throughout the city to seize motorcycles with illegal exhaust modifications, underscoring that such mufflers violate local ordinances and should be publicly destroyed.
The use of illegal exhausts is prohibited under Regulation Ordinance No. 2017-087, amending Reg Ordinance No.2017-071 (Iloilo City Muffler Ordinance).
Currently, with only one decibel meter shared with ICTMU, the ICPO’s efforts are limited. However, a request has been placed for additional meters.
“The ICPO already requested, through our Traffic Enforcement Unit, eight decibel meters to be used by our units,” Sangrines added.
The ICPO’s commitment includes recent training for 45 of its personnel to effectively tackle the issue of modified mufflers.
The records show a total of 56 modified mufflers have been seized in operations involving the ICPO and ICTMU, with 12 additional confiscations by ICTMU on April 3.
