ILOILO City – The Department of Education (DepEd) has clarified that learners in Western Visayas are already prohibited from using mobile phones and other portable electronic devices during active instructional hours under existing national policy, even as it expressed openness to proposals for a stricter, campus-wide cellphone ban in response to growing concerns over school safety and student violence.
DepEd Region 6, however, emphasized that any move to impose a total prohibition beyond what is provided under current regulations cannot be implemented unilaterally and must first secure the backing of local government units (LGUs), parents, school governing councils, and other education stakeholders.
Dr. Leonerico Barreda, chief education supervisor of DepEd-6, said the agency is implementing the provisions of DepEd Order No. 006, Series of 2026, or the “Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment”, which regulates — not completely prohibits — the use of mobile phones and portable electronic devices in schools.
The order allows the use of mobile devices only under specific circumstances, including for academic activities, approved online collaborative learning, and emergency situations.
“Ginabawalan ang students and teachers (from using cellphones) during active instructional hours, but there are also exemptions as stipulated in DepEd order. Exceptions include if the cellphones or portable electronic devices will be used for academic purposes, that is, for accessing educational platforms, resources or participating online collaborative activities. Also during emergency situations. Kabalo man kita nga ang aton mga electronic devices may camera, even voice recorders. These have become equipment nga maka-record sang mga incidents na would later help our authorities sa ila investigations just like what happened in the Tacloban school shooting nga damo nakakuha videos,” Barreda said.
He stressed that the existing DepEd order already prohibits cellphone use during classroom instruction but does not mandate a blanket ban inside school premises.
DepEd-6 also urged parents to maximize parental control and safety features on their children’s mobile devices to encourage responsible use and minimize distractions during school hours.
The clarification comes amid renewed nationwide discussions on tighter cellphone regulations following several high-profile incidents involving students, including violent episodes in schools that have prompted calls for stronger safety measures and stricter discipline policies.
Some local governments, including Cebu, have already adopted more restrictive rules on cellphone use inside schools.
Barreda said any proposal for a complete cellphone ban must be carefully studied and crafted in consultation with education stakeholders to ensure it promotes school safety while remaining consistent with national education policies./PN
