Iligan City mayor Frederick Siao is considering a ban on smartphones in schools, with basic mobile phones or “dumbphones” proposed as an alternative for students who need to remain reachable.
“Banning students from bringing smartphones to school is another measure we can consider to improve campus safety. Students who need a mobile phone may use basic phones, or ‘dumbphones,’ instead,” Siao said.
The proposal is part of a broader set of school safety measures being studied by the city government following a security drill at Iligan City National High School on Sept. 3.
Siao also linked students’ access to smartphones and online platforms to concerns over online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.
“We can also strengthen our Anti-OSAEC efforts, especially against online manipulation and exploitation of children that may expose them to harmful or violent behavior,” he said.
He said the city could work with parent-teacher associations to help parents identify warning signs, monitor their children’s behavior and online activities, and report possible threats to schools and authorities.
The city has yet to provide details on how a smartphone ban would be implemented, including whether it would cover all public and private schools, apply only during class hours, or contain exceptions for emergencies and educational use.
The Iligan City Government, through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, conducted the Sept. 3 drill in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Iligan City Police, the Department of Education, and school officials.
The exercise trained students and teachers to respond to a security threat by following the “run, hide and fight” protocol, with running and hiding treated as the first options whenever possible.
Siao said preventive measures were equally important. The city is considering providing public schools with handheld metal detector wands, walk-through metal detectors, and baggage scanners, as well as improving perimeter walls.
“For the baggage scanners, maybe we can acquire units through lease because they are too costly to purchase. The metal detector wands are the most affordable. But we must train security guards and barangay tanods on how to properly search bags and people,” he said.
The city is also studying the use of transparent bags in schools.
