Northern Samar Proposes Limits on Student Gadget Use in Schools

TACLOBAN CITY- The provincial government of Northern Samar is pushing for a policy on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in public and private elementary and secondary schools during class hours. The officials cited concerns over distractions, cyberbullying, cheating, and exposure to inappropriate online content. The proposed “Provincial Learner Focus and Digital Wellness Ordinance of 2026” seeks to establish a stronger local framework for gadget regulations in schools and extend the policy to private educational institutions in the province. READ: DepEd reminds schools to impose gadget use ban during class hours Board Member Don Abalon, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on laws, justice, human rights and public accountability, authored the measure. The proposed ordinance is intended to complement existing Department of Education (DepEd) policies, including DepEd Order No. 6, series of 2026, which regulates the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in public elementary and secondary schools. Under the proposed provincial measure, students would generally be prohibited from using mobile phones during instructional hours, except in cases involving medical needs or emergencies, or when it is expressly required by a teacher for academic purposes. It also said unrestricted use of mobile devices in schools could expose learners to various risks, including digital misconduct, academic cheating, cyberbullying and unauthorized access to inappropriate content during school hours. They also cited studies linking excessive or unrestricted mobile device use to declining academic performance among students. School heads, administrators and teachers from public and private schools who participated in the public hearing earlier welcomed the proposed policy, saying clear guidelines could help promote a more focused and supportive learning environment for both students and educators. Some stakeholders, however, proposed provisions that would allow community monitoring of compliance, stressing that the responsibility for educating and guiding children should be shared by schools, parents and the wider community. READ: Students may bring phones to school; class use limited —DepEd-7 Gov. Harris Ongchuan backed the proposal as part of efforts to promote a safe, focused, and conducive learning environment while encouraging responsible and disciplined use of digital technology among Northern Samar learners./coa