Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has renewed his push for Senate Bill No. 627, or the proposed Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act, which would prohibit students from Kindergarten to Senior High School from using smartphones and other electronic gadgets during class hours in both public and private schools.
The measure would allow exceptions for classroom presentations and other teacher-directed learning activities, as well as for students with specific health conditions and in emergencies or other situations involving a perceived threat or danger.
Gatchalian renewed the proposal after the suspension of on-site classes at a Batangas public school over a shooting threat. He also cited a foiled school attack in Laguna in February involving seven students allegedly recruited by foreign handlers through the online game Roblox.
“Maliban sa pagtiyak sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral, isinusulong din natin ang smartphone ban sa mga paaralan upang matiyak nating nakatutok sila sa pag-aaral at hindi sila naaabala,” Gatchalian said.
In a separate move, Gatchalian filed Proposed Senate Resolution No. 488, seeking a Senate inquiry into the effects of online gaming platforms and social media use on children, including their possible role in the rise of school violence. The resolution followed a series of violent incidents, including the shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that killed three students. Police said the suspects had been heavily exposed to GoreBox, a violence-simulating online game later temporarily blocked by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. Gatchalian also cited a stabbing incident at Cabaluay National High School in Zamboanga City that injured at least two students.
At a Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing last year, the Department of Education said at least 103 bullying incidents escalated into campus violence between Nov. 24, 2022, and April 7, 2025.
“Hindi natin maaaring balewalain ang epekto ng walang kontrol na digital exposure sa mga kabataan. Panahon nang tiyakin kung sapat ang ating mga polisiya upang maprotektahan sila,” Gatchalian said.
Local governments moving ahead of national policy
In Cebu, the municipality of Dumanjug implemented a total ban on student cellphone use in its public schools starting June 29, ahead of any national legislation. Mayor Efren Guntrano “Gungun” Gica said confiscated devices will be withheld until the end of the school year, with exceptions for teachers, who may carry phones for official communication.
The Department of Education Schools Division of Cebu Province said it had requested a copy of Dumanjug’s official policy document to evaluate whether it conforms with existing DepEd regulations, noting that local measures must remain consistent with national guidelines and learners’ rights. Malacañang said the objective of improving student focus was sound but questioned whether withholding a confiscated phone for an entire school year was a proportionate penalty.
Gatchalian’s renewed appeal comes as the Department of Education has separately reiterated its existing policy restricting gadget use during class hours and announced plans to deploy 10,000 new school counselor positions for School Year 2026-2027.
Senate Bill No. 627 remains pending before the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
