Cebu City keeps eye on banning of cellphones in Dumanjug schools

Local

CEBU City will monitor the outcome of the banning of cellphones in schools in Dumanjug town before deciding whether to implement a similar policy.

However, Mayor Nestor Archival said on Monday, June 29, that the city currently remains focused on strengthening campus security through tighter screening, mental health interventions, and closer coordination with the police.

Speaking after welcoming the new Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director during a turnover ceremony at City Hall, Archival said the cellphone issue remains under review as the city weighs both its benefits and drawbacks.

"Ang phones dili lang usa nato tan-awon. Tan-awon sa nato unsay resulta sa Dumanjug," the mayor said.

He clarified that Cebu City is not imposing a cellphone ban at this time, noting that many parents prefer their children to carry mobile phones so they can immediately communicate during emergencies.

"There are many parents who want their children to have phones so they can easily be contacted and located if an emergency happens," Archival said.

Instead of immediately restricting cellphone use, the city plans to expand security measures in all schools by deploying handheld metal detectors and improving campus access control.

Archival said the city intends to provide handheld metal detectors at every school entrance, recognizing that many campuses have multiple gates that need to be secured.

"We will provide metal detectors for every entrance," he said.

Based on the city's initial inventory, Cebu City has 74 public schools and 30 private schools.

The mayor said private schools also need to be included in the city's security assessment to determine their equipment requirements.

Beyond physical security, Archival said the city is also expanding its response to address the factors that could lead to school violence.

He announced that psychologists, psychometricians and guidance counselors have been invited to a meeting on Thursday to formulate recommendations on preventing campus violence.

According to the mayor, around 165 registered psychometricians, together with psychologists and guidance counselors, are expected to help develop strategies that schools can adopt.

The initiative builds on discussions that followed the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, which prompted Cebu City officials to review existing safety measures.

Archival reiterated that the incident underscored the need to address not only school security but also the behavioral and psychological issues that may contribute to violence.

The mayor also welcomed proposals from the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas to conduct active shooter simulation exercises in schools.

He said the recommendation would be endorsed to the city's new police leadership for possible implementation as part of the enhanced campus security program.

"That's a very good suggestion," Archival said, referring to active shooter drills.

Earlier Monday, Col. Ricky Sumalde formally assumed command of the Cebu City Police Office, succeeding Col. George Ylanan.

Archival thanked Ylanan for the programs initiated under his leadership and expressed hope that Sumalde would sustain and further strengthen them.

"I would like to ask him to continue the projects that are already in the pipeline. We understand that Colonel George's programs were effective, and we hope these will continue," Archival said.

Although he admitted he has yet to personally work with Sumalde, the mayor said he is optimistic they can align their respective programs.

"I hope we can communicate well with each other and harmonize our programs. Our success should be the same—or even better."

School safety, he added, will remain one of the priorities of the city's partnership with the new CCPO leadership.

The city government earlier announced plans to procure additional handheld metal detectors through the Local School Board, strengthen emergency response systems, improve police-school coordination, and craft long-term interventions with mental health professionals as part of its strategy to prevent school violence.(TGP)