Local government units (LGUs) should pass ordinances banning karaoke and other neighborhood noise that can distract students who are attending online classes from home, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday, October 7.

“As disciplined and responsible parents and citizens, let us help our students enjoy a quiet and peaceful environment so that they can study well inside their homes,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

What should be banned?

Aside from karaoke parties, the DILG called on LGUs to ban gambling activities and excessive drinking that may lead to noisy gatherings.

The ordinances can cover other noise-causing activities that distract students, as the LGUs deem fit. (READ: PEOPLE vs PANDEMIC: How these mayors’ priorities protected their communities)

The LGUs can also adjust the window of the noise ban based on the schedules of the schools in their areas of responsibility.

Why does this matter?

Based on data from the Department of Education’s Learner Enrolment Survey, there are around 7.5 million grade school and high school students in the Philippines who are attending school through online classes.

Attending these classes has caused stress to students and many have reported neighborhood noises, aside from inaccessible and unreliable internet connection, as a hindrance to their learning. – Rappler.com