IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI- MODIFIED MUFFLER ORDINANCE

IN BARANGAY BUGNAY, CANDON CITY

ILOCOS SUR

CORDOVA, MAIDEN HEART L.

GOROSPE, HONEY MAY B.

RANTE, LILY MARIE C.

CERVANIA, ANGELA R.

ILOCOS SUR POLYTECHNIC STATE COLLEGE

MAIN CAMPUS

CANDON CITY, ILOCOS SUR

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CRIMINOLOGY

(SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION)

JUNE 2024
 CERTIFICATION OF ORIGINALITY

This is to certify the research work presented in this project study entitled
“IMPLEMENTATION OF ANTI- MODIFIED MUFFLER ORDINANCE IN
BARANGAY BUGNAY, CANDON CITY, ILOCOS SUR “for the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Criminology at the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Candon City Main Campus
embodies the result of original and scholarly work carried out by the undersigned. This project
study does not contain words or ideas for the published sources no written works that have been
accepted as bias for the award of a degree from any higher education institution, except proper
referencing and acknowledgement were made.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL SHEET

ACKNOWLEGEMENT

DEDICATION

ABSTRACT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Framework of the Study

Statement of the Problem

Hypothesis

Definition of Terms

Significance of the study

Review of the Related Literature

CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGY
 Research Design

Locale and Population of the Study

Research Instrument

Data Gathering Procedures

Statistical Treatment

Data Categorization

Ethical Considerations

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

Findings Number 1 (Theme)

Sub Theme

Finding Number 2 (Theme)

Sub Theme

Conclusion

Limitation of the Study

 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

In this continually developing world, the increasing number of motorcycles is a concrete

manifestation of progress. As evidently seen in the Philippines almost all families owned a
vehicle from a four-wheel drive to a single motorcycle. However, tantamount to progress is
pollution due to the increasing number of motorcycles causing noise pollution. The government
was given concrete reasons to enact the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

Noise pollution is one of the biggest problems faced by many communities. Noise
pollution has hazardous effects on human health, especially to children who, at times, are
awakened in their sleep at night (Tumulak et al. 2021)

A modified muffler is redesigned exhaust of an internal combustion engine of a motor

vehicle. Thus, motor vehicles with modified mufflers are very noisy and can also cause collisions
when they overshadow road noises such as car horns and traffic enforcer whistles. Modified
muffler noise irritates drivers because it affects hearing, vision, and response time (Tumulak et
al. 2021).

On the study of Neitzelin et al., (2013) on noise exposure limit for children in
recreational setting: it is stated that a review of available evidence shows that long term exposure
to modified muffler noise may account for approximately 3% of coronary heart disease deaths
(or about 210,000 deaths) in Europe each year.

Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (2013) stated that, modified muffler emits bizarre
sounds and horns that might be detrimental to the health of people. Traffic management must be
implemented to address the problem mentioned above.

Additionally, Alcabaza (2019) stated that the noise pollution in the streets can be
annoying as it is, and it can get even more disruptive when loud vehicles are added to the mix.

The Philippines doesn’t have an existing noise limit. The existing law is an obsolete 1977
law which states that “Industrial establishments shall be provided with positive noise abatement
devices to tone down the noise level of equipment and machineries to acceptable limits set down
by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Pollution Control
Commission (NPCC)”.

The Anti-muffler Act of 2016 is a bill that seeks to criminalize the practice. It also seeks
to ban motorcycles and all sorts of vehicles, both private and public, from using any modified
form of muffler that only serves to make the output louder (Alcabaza, 2019).

Police Major Gerard Paul Puesca Duran (2020) in an interview with GMA news public
affairs affirmed that from the year 2019 up to the present, roughly 73-84 percent of people have
been arrested because of the modified muffler ordinance that they have been enforcing.
According to him, people who are bona fide residents of Tangub City fond of redesigning and
remarking of their muffler that could hugely affects people in terms of health, environment and
even traffic management are to be punished.

In the city of Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno signs into law the “Noise Regulation
Ordinance” which is now called Ordinance No. 8772. Under the new ordinance, all motor
vehicles, whether public or private, are not allowed to have modified/loud exhausts that emit and
produce noise levels beyond the national standard 99 decibels (dB). Any motorist that violates
the ordinance will be subjected to a hefty fine (De Guzman, 2021).

In Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur, most of the residents, especially teenagers are not
using the prescribed pipes. Residents are complaining about the noise that is made by this kind of
vehicle. To address this problem, barangay police are mandated to roam around the barangay and
give warnings to the drivers that are using modified mufflers.

However, even if there is an existing penalty for this violation, motorcycle drivers in
Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur are still using their preferred type of pipes thus, contributing
to disturbance of the neighborhood. With this reason, the researchers opted to conduct the study.
This research aims to determine the level of implementation of Anti-Modified Muffler Ordinance
in the barangay. Limits set down by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the
National Pollution Control Commission (NPCC)”.

The Anti-muffler Act of 2016 is a bill that seeks to criminalize the practice. It also seeks
to ban motorcycles and all sorts of vehicles, both private and public, from using any modified
form of muffler that only serves to make the output louder (Alcabaza, 2019).

Police Major Gerard Paul Puesca Duran (2020) in an interview with GMA news public
affairs affirmed that from the year 2019 up to the present, roughly 73-84 percent of people have
been arrested because of the modified muffler ordinance that they have been enforcing.
According to him, people who are bona fide residents of Tangub City fond of redesigning and
remarking of their muffler that could hugely affects people in terms of health, environment and
even traffic management are to be punished.

In the city of Manila, Mayor Isko Moreno signs into law the “Noise Regulation
Ordinance” which is now called Ordinance No. 8772. Under the new ordinance, all motor
vehicles, whether public or private, are not allowed to have modified/loud exhausts that emit and
produce noise levels beyond the national standard 99 decibels (dB). Any motorist that violates
the ordinance will be subjected to a hefty fine (De Guzman, 2021).

In Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur, most of the residents, especially teenagers are not
using the prescribed pipes. Residents are complaining about the noise that is made by this kind of
vehicle. To address this problem, barangay police are mandated to roam around the barangay and
give warnings to the drivers that are using modified mufflers.

However, even if there is an existing penalty for this violation, motorcycle drivers in
Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur are still using their preferred type of pipes thus, contributing
to disturbance of the neighborhood. With this reason, the researchers opted to conduct the study.
This research aims to determine the level of implementation of Anti-Modified Muffler Ordinance
in the barangay.

Framework of the Study

The framework of the study is anchored to the following underlying theories, concepts, and
principles about the study.

The study is primarily anchored on the Theory on Good Governance.

Based on the study of Bang and Esmark (2009) as cited by Batin et al. (2017), it says that good
governance serves as an instrument of governance that nurtures and strategically utilizes the self-
governing potential of civil society under the strategic supervision of public authorities. It also
suggests individual freedom, empowerment, participation, transparency, and accountability.

The systems Theory of Good Governance has something to do with the research study
because it reveals if the national and local authorities utilize the strategic supervision in the
Implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016 in the country along with how the authorities
formulate policies and to determine whether the quality of good governance is present in the
enactment of the ordinance or not.

Additionally, World Health Organization (WHO) report from 2014, air pollution from
modified mufflers killed approximately 7 million people worldwide in 2012, a number that is
roughly mirrored by the International Energy Agency. The study also showed that they can cause
serious health problems, and in some circumstances, they can be fatal.
 Brunekreef and Holgate (2002), Pope et al. (2002), Kunzhin et al. (2005) stated that,
one of the most substantial causes of air pollution in many Philippine cities is motor vehicle
emissions from modified mufflers. It was also revealed that the combustion of gasoline and other
hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide. There is strong evidence that ambient air pollution has a
negative impact on public welfare. Furthermore, according to Barth (1996), environmental
damage by modified mufflers is caused in part by discharges.

Senate Bill No. 1195 Section 3 also known as an act prohibiting the use of motor vehicles
without mufflers or those that are defective or have been modified which increase the sound
emitted by motor vehicles, penalizing owners and drivers that contribute to noise pollution in the
environment as introduced by Win Gatchalian in 2016. The protection of the health and well-
being of the member of the community should be the primordial concern of our society, hence, it
is imperative that rules are laid down and observed to protect them from dangers or prolonged
exposure to noise pollution by unregulated use of motor vehicles which by reason of lack of
defective, or modified mufflers emitting loud and unnecessary noise disturbing the peace and
harmony of nature.

In the study of Alcabaza (2019), they found out that vehicles with modified mufflers are
highly distracting in traffic and can cause accidents since they mask sound and agitate drivers.
Loud sounds can affect hearing, vision, reaction time and judgment of drivers and nearby people
increasing dangers significantly for everyone involve.
 INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

1.) What is the profile of the

respondents in terms of:
a.) age.
b.) sex.
c.) civil status.
d.) type of license; and
e.) type of vehicle?
2.) What is level of
implementation of the Anti-
muffler Act of 2016?
1. Is there a significant Seminar on Anti- Muffler
relationship between the Act of 2016
profile of the respondents and
the level of implementation?
2.) What are the strengths and
weaknesses of the
implementation of the Anti-
muffler Act of 2016?
3.) What Information,
Education, and
Communication (IEC) materials
can be developed?

4.) What is the level of validity

of the developed IEC along:

a. content.

b. objectives.

c. usefulness?

FEEDBACK

Figure 1. The Research Paradigm

The present study used the Input-Process-Output design. The profile of the respondents
and the level of implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016 are the input of this study. The
process shows the analysis on the profile of the respondents, level of implementation,
relationship between the profile of the respondents and the level of implementation of the Anti-
Muffler Act of 2016, and the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation. The output is a
seminar addressing the problem on the implementation of the Anti-muffler Act of 2016.
Statement of the Problem

1.) What is the profile of the respondents in terms of:

a.) age.

b.) sex.

c.) civil status.

d.) type of license; and

e.) type of vehicle?

2.) What is the level of implementation of the Anti-muffler Act of 2016?1. Is there a significant
relationship between the profile of the respondents and the level of implementation?

3.) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of the Anti-muffler Act of
2016?

4.) What Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials can be developed?

5.) What is the level of validity of the developed IEC along:

a. content.

b. objectives.

c. usefulness?

Hypothesis

This study was guided by the hypothesis:

There is a significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and the level of
Implementation of the Anti- Modified Muffler Ordinance in Selected Barangay in City of
Candon, Ilocos Sur.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined operationally:

Age. This refers to the year of existence of respondent from birth to the conduct of the study.

Big Bike. This pertains to a motorcycle that has 400 CC and above.

Civil Status. This pertains to the state of being married or not.

License. This refers to the permit you need to drive a motorcycle. This can be Professional and
Non-Professional.

Level of Implementation. This pertains to how the ordinance is being enforced such as Very
Highly Implemented, Highly Implemented, Moderately Implemented, Fairly Implemented,
Unimplemented

Muffler. This refers to the defective or modified motorcycle pipes that emit a loud noise.

Profile. This refers to the characteristics of the respondents.

Sex. This refers to being male or female of the respondents.

Seminar. This refers to a face-to-face discussion that will raise the awareness of motorcycle
owners on the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

Strengths. This refers to the capabilities of the respondents in abiding with the Anti-Muffler Act
of 2016. These are the items assessed with means 3.41-5.00.

Type of Motorcyle. This pertains to the kind of motorcycles that the respondent is using.

Underbone. This pertains to a motorcycle that has 150 CC and below.

Weaknesses. This refers to the constraints of the respondents that hinder them in abiding with
the law. These are the items ranging from 1.00 to 3.40.

Significance of the Study

This study is beneficial to the following:

Motorcycle Users. This study would raise awareness on the usage of prescribed pipes.

Barangay Officials. This could help them to formulate an alternative ordinance to lessen the use
of modified mufflers.

Residents. This could be an additional information on the policies implemented by the

authorities of the barangay.

Philippine National Police (PNP). This could help them make an effective strategy that will
help them implement the act more effectively.

Land Transportation Office (LTO). This could also help them determine the number (data) of
drivers riding a motorcycle without a license.
Researchers. This could serve as a medium in spreading the rules and regulations, sanctions and
penalties of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

Future Researchers. This could serve as their basis for similar studies to be conducted in a
wider scope.

Review of Related Literature

Profile

According to Clemente (2021), a profile is a subset internal to a specification. Aspects of

a complex technical specification may necessarily have more than one interpretation, and there
are probably many optional features. These aspects constitute a profile of the standard. Two
implementations engineered from the same description may not interoperate due to having a
different profile of the standard.

In the study conducted by Hassanzadeh (n.d.) motorcyclist’s behavior plays an important

role in increasing the mortality rate caused by traffic crash. Identifying the risky behaviors of
motorcycle riders is essential to maintain and improve the health of motorcycle riders and other
community members.

Age

In accordance to the study of LaMance (2019) most caught violators are of ages 16-24
years old. This implies that minors are said to be a violator than the adult one.

Moreover, in the study of Chang and Chang (2008) as cited by Golestani (2018), they
found out that the conditional probability of experiencing unlicensed riding was the highest for
the ages 16-17 years, approximately 41.9% of the sampled students had their first unlicensed
experience.

Sex

In the study of Tumulak et al. (2021), they found out that all drivers want their
motorcycles to look cool and also sounds good for attraction especially the male drivers. In
today’s generation, they use modified pipes where it emits loud sounds that can awaken infants,
who at times, are in a deep sleep.

Civil Status

People who are in single relationship status are believed as the most user of vehicle
containing modified or prescribed pipe. They focus on riding their vehicles and making it better
and cooler. They gave too much to it and it can lead them to addiction to motorcycles (Tumulak
et al., 2021).

Type of License

In accord with Alcabaza (2019) before you can take home that brand new or used car you
got, you must have the proper authorization to drive a vehicle. In addition, he also identified that
there are three types of driver’s license in the country such as student permit, non-professional
license and professional license.

On the same study, Alcabaza (2019) stated that people as young as 16 years old can
qualify for a student permit. This can be upgraded to a non-professional license one month after
acquiring the student permit and a professional license after 6 months.

Type of Motorcycle

According to Alcabaza (2019) stated that most of the vehicles on the road run on
combustion-type engines. This means that these vehicles need to burn fuel in order to operate.
This creates a lot of noise in and of itself, and if these engines don’t have an enclosure or
muffler, explosions can be ear-shattering, as they can go as high as 194 decibels at close
distance.

Abbas (2019) said that there are several options for modification of stock like body kits
and other performance modification to improve the car better such as single and dual exhaust
systems, double crossover exhaust pipe, mandrel bend exhaust, cat-back exhaust, and axle-back
exhaust.

Level of Implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016

As stated in the study of Lauriano et al. (2019) as per the assessment of the LTO Officers
and the Brgy. Officials about the high morale and well-trained traffic enforcers, most od the
respondents agreed. As per the assessment, the Brgy. Pinyahan, Diliman, Quezon City’s
implementation against unauthorized modification of motor vehicle parts (MUFFLER) was
mostly agreeable. As attested by the respondents, the recommendation proposed by the
researchers to the implementation of unauthorized modification of motor vehicle parts
(MUFFLER) were regarded as “Recommended”.

According to Jovel Dondo, Traffic Aide 1 of POSO Dagupan, most of the violators
caught by authorities are not a resident of City of Dagupan. He also stated that the number of
violators isn’t decreasing but increasing from 60 in the last three months and now is 500
violators in a week.

Relationship between Profile and Level of Implementation

 Research has found a strong and significant relationship between safety attitudes in traffic
and risky driving (Fernandes et al., 2016). Results of the study of Ullberg and Rundmo (2013)
reveals that attitude towards traffic safety is the only variable that has a direct effect on risky
driving, and they concluded that strategies intended to promote road safety will be effective only
by changing driver’s attitudes towards unsafe driving.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016

In the study of Cycle-smart (n.d), they stated that training your weaknesses but racing to
your strengths is a simple approach that will lead to noticeable improvement in most riders,
though it can be more easily said than done. Its tricky business trying to isolate what your
weakness are, and often riders mistake weakness in one area for another.

Seminar

According to Rao (2020) seminars are simply a group of people coming together for the
discussion and learning of specific techniques and topics. Many different methods of learning
business strategies and life strategies exist for those that don’t have the time flexibility or money
flexibility to attend. Overall, seminars, if chosen carefully, can be a good experience. They are
not a miracle cures to business problems or other problems, however, and this must be kept in
mind when deciding to attend a seminar.

Moreover, according to Picincu (2019), other advantages of seminars include the

opportunity to position yourself as an expert, find your sense of purpose and hear the opinions of
acclaimed experts in your field.
 CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGY

This chapter presents the research design, population and locale of the study, research instrument
and procedures, statistical treatments of data, and data categorization used in the conduct of the
study.

Research Design

This study made use of the descriptive-correlational and developmental research design.
Descriptive research design aims to describe a population, situation, or phenomenon
(McCombes, 2022) accurately and systematically. The descriptive research design was used to
describe the personal profile of the respondents and the level of implementation of the Anti-
Muffler Act of 2016 and the validity of the proposed seminar.

On the other hand, correlation was used to determine the significant relationship between
the profile of the respondents and the level of implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

The developmental research dealt on the development of proposed seminar which was
validated by experts that will raise the awareness on the prescribed pipe in accordance with Anti-
Muffler Act of 2016.

Population and Locale

The research respondents were the thirty-four (34) motorcycle drivers or owners and bona
fide residents of Barangay Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur both licensed and unlicensed. The
respondents are selected through purposive sampling technique.

Research Instrument and Procedure

The questionnaire was the main data gathering tool used in this study to gather the
necessary information about the subject. The questionnaire has two parts. Part one was used to
determine the profile of the respondents and the second part was used to determine the level of
implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016 in Bugnay, City of Candon, Ilocos Sur.

The questionnaire was adopted from the study conducted by Tumulak et al. (2021)
entitled Anti-Modified Muffler Ordinance: Its Implementation and Effectiveness.
Statistical Treatment of Data

The data were collated, tabulated, and subjected for analysis and interpretation using the
appropriate statistical tools and treatment. Descriptive statistics were used for this study.

Percentage and frequency count were used to interpret the personal profile of the respondents.

Weighted Mean was used to determine the level of implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of
2016 and the level of validity of the seminar.

Simple Correlation Analysis was used to determine the significant relationship between the
profile of the respondents and the level of implementation of the Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

DATA CATEGORIZATION

The computed mean scores were used to determine the level of implementation of the
Anti-Muffler Act of 2016.

A. To describe the level of implementation, the following scale was utilized.

Rating Statistical Limit Descriptive Rating

5 4.21-5.00 Very High Implemented

(VHI)

4 3.41-4.20 Highly Implemented (HI)

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Implemented

(Mol)

2 1.81-2.60 Fairly Implemented (FI)

1 1.00-1.80 Unimplemented (U)

B. To describe the validity of the proposed seminar, the following scale mean with different
scores were utilized.

Rating Statistical Limit Descriptive Rating

5 4.21-5.00 Very Evident (VE)

4 3.41-4.20 Evident (E)

3 2.61-3.40 Moderately Evident (MoE)

2 1.81-2.60 Less Evident (LE)

 1 1.00-1.80 Least Evident (LTE)

C. To determine the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of the law, the following
scale mean was utilized.

Statistical Limit Descriptive Rating

3.41-5.00 Strengths (S)

1.00-3.40 Weakness (W)

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Participants will be informed about the purpose of the study and voluntarily agree to
participate. Any coercion or deception would be unethical. Researchers will protect the privacy
of participants by keeping their identities confidential and removing any identifying information
from the data and research reports. The study should be designed to avoid causing physical,
psychological, social, or legal harm to participants. Potential risks should be disclosed, and
measures taken to mitigate them. The researchers will be conducting the study and analyze the
data objectively, without bias or falsification of results. Ethical misconduct like fabricating or
manipulating data would be a serious breach. The potential benefits of the research, such as
informing policies to address the modified muffler issue, should outweigh any risks or burdens to
participants. By adhering to these ethical principles, quantitative research on modified mufflers
can be conducted in a responsible manner that respects the rights and wellbeing of the
participants.