(Villaba National High School Facebook)
TACLOBAN CITY — Students in public and private elementary and secondary schools in Villaba, Leyte are now prohibited from using mobile phones and other personal electronic devices during class hours under a newly enacted municipal ordinance.
The local government has enacted Municipal Ordinance No. 39, or the “Cellphone-Free Classroom” ordinance, which seeks to minimize classroom disruptions and encourage students to focus on their studies.
The ordinance, authored by Sangguniang Bayan Member Dennis Sy, covers the use of mobile phones and other personal electronic devices during scheduled class hours, generally from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
For secondary schools, the restriction begins at 7 a.m., while the prohibition starts at 8 a.m. for elementary schools.
Among the prohibited activities are making or receiving calls and text messages, accessing social media and online games, taking unauthorized photographs or videos, and using electronic devices in ways that disrupt classroom instruction.
The ordinance, however, provides exemptions for authorized educational activities approved by teachers, emergency situations requiring immediate communication, and students with special needs who use electronic devices as assistive technology.
Rather than imposing monetary penalties, the municipality adopted a guidance-oriented disciplinary system designed to address violations without depriving students of their right to education.
For a first offense, the student will receive a verbal warning and the device may be temporarily confiscated by the classroom teacher until the end of the school day.
A second offense will require a written notice to the student’s parent or guardian and a mandatory parent-teacher conference.
For a third offense, the student will undergo mandatory counseling, while the parent or guardian will be required to attend a digital responsibility seminar.
Subsequent violations will be dealt with under existing school policies and Department of Education (DepEd) guidelines.
The ordinance specifically prohibits the suspension or expulsion of students, or the denial of access to education, solely because of violations of the cellphone-free classroom policy.
Covered schools are also required to provide secure storage boxes or cabinets where confiscated devices can be safely kept until they are returned to students.
Schools must revise their student handbooks to incorporate the guidelines and procedures under the municipal ordinance.
To encourage compliance, the municipal government will also recognize schools that demonstrate strong adherence to the policy.
Annual awards, including a P3,000 cash prize and a plaque of recognition, will be given to the most compliant schools during the municipality’s Adlaw sa Villaba celebration.
The measure is intended to promote a more focused classroom environment while recognizing the legitimate educational, emergency and accessibility-related uses of digital devices.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
