Gatchalian pushes smartphone, social media ban anew in classes amid school violence surge

Justine Castro

Following a string of school violence attacks nationwide involving students, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian renewed his call to ban the use of smartphones, other electronic devices, and social media during class hours in both public and private schools.

Through his revival of his appeal for Senate Bill No. 627, or the proposed Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, the proposal seeks to prohibit students from Kindergarten to Senior High School from using electronic gadgets in school.

Gatchalian’s renewed appeal came after the suspension of in-person classes at a Batangas public school due to a shooting threat and a foiled attack in Laguna where seven students were allegedly recruited by foreign handlers through the online game Roblox.

“Maliban sa pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral, isinusulong natin ang smartphone ban sa mga paaralan upang matiyak nating nakatutok sila sa pag-aaral at hindi sila naaabala,” said Gatchalian in an online statement.

The bill provides exemptions for teacher-directed learning activities, students with health needs, and situations involving emergencies or perceived threats.

This comes after violence incidents in schools nationwide, including two male minors killing three students and wounding several others in a Tacloban City school shooting, authorities preventing another attack in Leyte, and separate stabbing incidents being reported in Cavite and Batangas.

The Senate President pushed the same proposal during the 19th Congress and refiled the proposed measure upon the opening of the 20th Congress, following South Korea’s looming ban on smartphones in classrooms.

Gatchalian said that protecting the youth from harmful influences is a collective responsibility of public servants, as he remained steadfast in pushing for both campus safety and overall learning development.

“Hindi natin puwedeng ipagkaila na nakakaapekto ang social media sa asal, behavior, at mental health ng ating kabataan. Dapat bigyan ng pansin ang lahat ng nangyayari bago maging huli ang lahat,” said Gatchalian in a separate online statement.