TARLAKENYO (August 7, 2024) — A commissioned poll says that a vast majority of Filipinos support mobile phone bans in schools.
In a June 17-24, 2024 Pulse Asia poll, commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, 76% of Filipinos favor mobile phone bans from schools, with 13% saying they disagree, while 11% were undecided.
The survey asked 1,200 respondents: “How much do you agree or disagree with the cell phone ban inside schools?”
The mobile phone ban in schools garnered the most support from the Mindanao region with 81% of the respondents supporting the proposal. Eighty percent of NCR respondents and 79% in the rest of Luzon also show a strong support for the measure with the Visayas showing the least support – but still a majority – at 61%.
“Malinaw na suportado ng ating mga kababayan ang ating panukala na ipagbawal ang paggamit ng mga cellphones sa mga paaralan, lalo’t na’t ang paggamit nito sa oras ng klase ay maaaring makapinsala sa kanilang pag-aaral. Kaya naman patuloy nating isinusulong ang panukalang batas na magbabawal sa paggamit ng cellphone sa oras ng klase,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
Last June, Gatchalian filed the Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act (Senate Bill No. 2706), which seeks to prohibit learners’ use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets from Kindergarten to senior high school within school premises during school hours.
