SENATE Committee on Basic Education Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian is set to file a measure banning the use of cellphone in schools.

Gatchalian made the assurance in reaction to a bill filed in the House of Representatives banning Tiktok in the country.

“Ang aking proposal, to ban cellphones inside schools. We talked about that. And we will be filing the bill soon,” Gatchalian said.

“Marami na ngayong mga studies on how social media is affecting the mental health ng bata,” he said.

The senator added that there are studies stating that the algorithm of Tiktok is more aggressive than other applications.

“But having said that, ang bata kasi ngayon, iba na yung kanilang pag-iisip because of social media and cell phones,” he explained.

“At kaya sabi ko, para ang bata lumaki ng marunong makipagkaibigan, magbasa… dapat i-ban natin ang cellphone inside schools. Dahil ito nakaka-apekto sa paglaki ng bata,” he added.

“For example, bigyan ko kayo ng halimbawa. Pag recess, kaagad cellphone eh. Wala nang kwentuhan-kwentuhan. Wala nang sports-sports. Gusto nilang mag-cellphone. Kaya hindi maganda rin yan sa pagpapalaki ng bata,” the senator further stressed.