City dad lobbies truancy ordinance

CEBU, Philippines- Students loitering outside school campus during class hours will soon be facing charges in Talisay City.

This, if the proposed ordinance sponsored City Councilor Aldin Diaz will get the council's support. It will be called the Talisay City Anti-Truancy Ordinance.

The ordinance will be tackled in today's council session and is expected to be referred to the committee on laws and ordinances, as well as to the committee on education.

Diaz said he observed that students, instead of attending classes, are seen inside internet cafes or lingering in entertainment places and business establishments during school hours.

Diaz explained that the measure aims to protect the interest of the students so that parents will have peace of mind that their children are inside the school premises during class hours.

Offenders under the ordinance are students staying or in or upon a public place or business establishment during school hours; parents or guardians, teacher and school authorities consenting the violation; and operator of business establishment allowing students linger, stay, play billiards, computer games and other games during school hours.

If the ordinance will be approved, it will provide for the creation and composition of the anti-truancy board to implement the law.

For the first offense, violators will be referred to the Social Welfare and Development Office for counseling.

For further violations, they will then be referred to the barangay council where they reside to determine the penalty.

Parents, guardians, teachers, business operators found guilty will also be penalized by either imprisonment or payment of monetary fine or both.

The establishment will also face automatic closure with its permit cancelled in the third offense, as stated on the draft of the proposed ordinance.

Business establishments referred to in the ordinance include internet cafes, computer shops, video shops, billiard halls, movie houses and other entertainment establishments.

Recently, the Cebu provincial government also approved the "Cebu Provincial Anti-Truancy Ordinance."

In the province, business establishments, operators would be fined P2,000 to P3,000.