Malacañang on Monday said it recognizes the intent behind a Cebu town’s ban on students bringing mobile phones to school, but questioned whether confiscating the devices until the end of the school year is a reasonable penalty.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the policy appears aimed at helping students focus on their studies, but the sanction may need closer review.
“Maganda naman po iyong kanyang layunin para po mas magkaroon ng concentration ang mga bata sa kanilang pag-aaral. Hindi ko lang po masasabi kung ang penalty ay nararapat, kung ito ba ay reasonable,” Castro said in a briefing.
Dumanjug, Cebu Mayor Gungun Gica earlier announced that starting June 29, students in the town would no longer be allowed to bring mobile phones to school. Under the policy, confiscated phones would be returned only at the end of the school year.
Castro noted that some schools, particularly private institutions, already impose restrictions on mobile phone use, especially during class hours.
The Dumanjug policy was issued following a series of violent incidents involving students, including the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City and recent stabbing incidents outside a high school in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, and in two schools in Cavite.
Malacañang said the objective of improving student focus and school safety may be valid, but the proportionality of the penalty remains a question.