Eleazar orders police visibility in barangays to discourage loud noises while online classes ongoing

October 11, 2020

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield has ordered police visibility at the barangay level to ensure the proper implementation of the ordinance that prohibits loud noises, which could disturb the students from holding online classes.

Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, JTF commander, on Saturday said the mere presence of policemen in the community could discourage the residents to use videoke and engage in noisy activities.

“Our students are already struggling to adapt to this type of learning and the least that we could do is to make sure that they are not distracted by unnecessary loud noises in their respective communities for them to focus on their school works,” he said.

In order to maximize the enforcement of the ordinances, Eleazar said police commanders should start setting up Barangay Assistance Desk that would be manned by at least two cops.

Eleazar said the cities of Manila, Navotas, Pasay and Cebu have already passed their respective ordinances against loud and distracting noises, such as videoke.

“We express our sincerest gratitude to the mayors and the rest of those who compose the local government units for their immediate response to our call to protect our online learners from disturbing noises,” he said.

The JTF commander also encouraged other LGUs to do the same as it will help them in ensuring that every barangay is conducive for learning under the online and modular type of classes.

Eleazar stressed the need to modify the allowable time for the use of videoke by each LGU. Currently, some LGUs allowed videoke until 10pm.

“We leave it to the discretion of the LGUs to find a middle ground between the right of the students for peaceful online classes and the consideration for their constituents to use videoke to unwind,” he said.

Eleazar added his office has already coordinated with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, who is also the Vice Chairman of the National Task Force on COVID-19, to tap barangay tanods and the LGUs’ Public Order and Safety personnel for the enforcement of ordinances relating to the protection of online learners from loud noises. Ella Dionisio/DMS