With the growing complaints of noise pollution, a Quezon City councilor said that he will ask for the city’s business permit and licensing office (BPLO) not to renew the business permits of establishments violating the city’s sound proofing ordinance.

Councilor Jaime Borres of the city’s third district said he will confer with BPLO chief Pacifico Maghacot to discuss plans to reduce the number if not totally solve the problem on noise pollution.

Quezon City Ordinance No. SP 1153 series of 2002 prescribes the sound proofing of all business establishments in the city operating with live bands, karaoke bars, jazz bands, discotheques and similar establishments.

Local residents complained that the comfort they long for inside their own homes were severely affected by the noise coming from the entertainment spots of their area.

They said the conversion of some of the city’s sections from a residential zone to a commercial area have compounded their woes as gaining restful sleep and privacy inside their homes have turned into a nightmare.

Despite the existing ordinance, bar and restaurant owners have totally defied the law saying that law enforcers, including city hall officials, failed to enforce the sound proofing ordinance.

They said the “slap on the wrist” imposed on violators of the ordinance is encouraging the establishment owners to disregard the law.

Under the ordinance’s penalty clause, persons found violating the provision of the ordinance will be fined P1,000 for the first apprehension, P3,000 for the second apprehension and P5,000 for the third apprehension.

Aside from the fines, the ordinance also imposes jail time of from 30 days to five months.

Residents in Barangay E. Rodriguez in Cubao said that the sounds and noise coming from the bars and beer joints in their vicinity have caused them much inconvenience especially at night.

They asked Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte to summon Maghacot for continuously granting permits for restaurants to operate as beerhouses in the city.