Anti-truancy ordinance gets nod

CEBU, Philippines – Except for minor amendments, the proposed Talisay City Anti-Truancy Ordinance, which regulates the entry of uniformed students in malls and other recreation centers and internet cafes during school days and class hours, has been approved by the Committee on Education.

City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, in his two-page committee report, said they have given their nod on the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Aldin Diaz as he observed that students, instead of attending classes, are seen inside internet cafes or lingering in entertainment places and business establishments during school hours.

"The Committee finds that the ordinance aims to protect the interests of students in elementary and high school by isolating them from the effects of loitering in public places and entering internet cafes, business establishments, playing video games/computer games and billiards during school hours," Aznar said.

According to Aznar, in order to effectively enforce the local measure, there is a need to create a Truancy Board with duties and responsibilities.

Also, the committee finds that under Section 7 of the ordinance, the board is only composed of city mayor as the chairman and the members of the board are the chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on Committee on Peace and Order, Public Safety and Human Rights, superintendent of the Division of City Schools, ABC president, head of the Talisay City PNP, Division P.T.A. Federation president and the head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office and head of the Local Children Protection Council.

"The Committee recommends that the following shall be added as members of the Truancy Board: the chairman of the Committee on Labor, Trade and Industry and the chairman of the Committee on Education," Aznar said in his report.

Overall, Aznar said the ordinance was already approved as it also aims to deter truancy by helping students to be more responsible by attending classes regularly.

Under the ordinance, the students staying or in or upon a public place or business establishments 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 will be penalized.

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 on 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.