ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro found the proposed total ban on the use of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets in the classroom as too strict.

“Well, parang masyadong, masyado naman ‘yung, ano nun, higpit, no? Kailangan din natin pag-aralan muna mabuti. ‘Yung advantages and disadvantages,” Castro said.

The solon was reacting to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s Senate Bill No. 2706 or the proposed Electronic Gadget-Free Schools Act seeking to mandate the Department of Education to issue guidelines on the prohibition of electronic gadgets during class hours.

Castro said she is more amenable to regulating phones and gadgets in the classroom, as opposed to a total ban.

She cited these specific scenarios as moments wherein students or learners shouldn’t be using their phones: during class lectures, laboratory work, and reading.

“Puwede siguro, ano, no, at the start of the class, kumpiskahin ‘yung mga, ano, no, ‘yung mga cellphone, itago at i-keep safe ng teacher at the end of the classes, pwede siyang ibalik,” the solon stressed.

Castro further explained that teachers should always have their phones with them, especially in cases of emergencies.

“For emergency purpose, dapat may cellphone din ang teacher. Kasi pag may nangyaring emergency sa bata, no, or may nangyaring emergency sa parents, or whatever, o sa school, kailangan ma-inform din yung mga estudyante,” she explained.

She also acknowledged that some students use mobile phones as their default notebooks.

“’Yung iba, hindi na gumagamit ng notebook, eh. Minsan, kinukopya na lang nila or pinipicture na nila sa blackboard. So, baka mas efficient sa mga bata yung gano’n, kaya bayaan lang din natin,” she explained.