EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1271
(Oflicr o( Uk ibrcrrtarjr
20 
JHN16 P4«5
RECCl'.'' D m ’;
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
REGULATING THE USE OF MOBILE PHONES AND OTHER 
ELECT RONIC GADGETS TO STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARDEN TO 
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth and our students in 
nation-building and edicts that the government “shall promote and protect their 
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being” (Article II, Section 13). 
It also mandates the State to “[ejstablish, maintain, and support a complete, 
adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and 
society” (Article XIV, Section 2 [1]).
Education plays a significant role in our nation’s development.
The continuing development and massive rise of new technologies and digital 
innovations in the 21st century ne\er stops evolving. E\rer>1:hing is “mobile” these 
days. Many things and applications can be accessed on one’s mobile device such as 
smartphones. We use them for music, videos, web browsing, social media, cameras, 
gaming, and research, among others. Making life easier and more efficient are just 
some of the benefits brought about by the advancement of technology.
However, excessive use of mobile devices can also lead to an array of negative 
effects and hazards. A Japanese study found out that overuse of mobile devices 
hampers student’s ability to study. The study revealed that unrestrained use of 
mobile phones poses risks to students, leading them to fare poorly in elementary and 
junior high school primarily due to lack of sleep that affects their concentration and 
retention. The study found that students who spent over two hours every day both


studying and using messaging apps scored worse on a math exam than those who 
studied for less than 30 minutes a day but didn’t use a smartphone at all1. Aside from 
negatively affecting the student’s learning and comprehension,2 3 4 5 mobile phones were 
also found to lead to cyberbullying, when the same were used to take unauthorized 
and inappropriate photos of other students3. Other noted adverse effects include 
psychological and physiological complications, and mental health issues, which 
interfere with education, diminish academic performance, and contribute to increase 
in teenage anxiety, depression and suicide^.
The London School of Economics and Political Science, in a 2015 study, found 
that test scores improved significantly when schools prohibited the use of mobile 
phones. The said study concluded that “schools could significantly reduce the 
education achievement gap by prohibiting mobile phone use in schools”.
However, acknowledging the reality that we live in a technology-rich world 
where mobile phones and other electronic devices are an important communication 
tool and platforms for learning which can bring higher quality teaching and 
learnings, there is also need to balance this goal of increasing student performance 
VNith the opportunit}' to properly integrate the use of mobile devices and electronic 
gadgets in our educational system.
Confronted with the latest reports that Philippines ranked last among 79 
countries in reading comprehension, and the countrv^ ending up below ranks 70 in 
mathematics and science,6 regulating the use of mobile phones and other electronic 
gadgets in schools is one of the immediate solutions that the government can take to 
improve the learning conditions for our students and help them towards better 
performance in our schools.
This bill mandates the Department of Education (DepEd) to promulgate 
guidelines regulating the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets in our public 
schools. These guidelines shall likewise establish the procedure to be observed in
1 M urai, S (1 May 2015) Overuse o f mobile gadgets hampers students’ ability to study, sleep. Retrieved from : 
https://w w w .japantim es.co.jp/new s/2015/05/01/national/social-issues/overuse-m obile-gadgets-ham pers-students-ability- 
study-sleep/#.XfBjsOgzblU. Accessed last 10 December 2019
2 Rather & Rather (10 April 2019) Impact o f Smartphones on Young Generation. Retrieved
fro m :https://digitalcom m ons.unl.edu/cgi/view content.cgi?article=5938&context=libphilprac. Accessed last 10 December 
2019
3 Essex, N. (8 January 2013). The 200 Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions fo r Educators. Simon and Schuster. Skyhorse 
Publishing New York.
4 Twenge, J. (September 2017) Have Smartphones Destroyed a
G e n e ra tio n ? h ttp s ://w w w .th e a tla n tic .c o m /m a g a z in e /a rc h iv e /2 0 1 7 /0 9 /h a s -th e -s m a rtp h o n e -d e s tro y e d -a -
generation/534198/. Accessed last 10 December 2019
5 Oxford Learning (22 April 2019) CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM: LEARNING TOOL OR DISTRACTION. Retrieved from : 
https://w w w .oxfordlearning.com /should-cell-phones-be-allow ed-classroom s/. Accessed last 10 Dec. 2019
6 Paris, J. (4 December 2019) Philippines ranks among lowest in reading, math, and science in 2018 study. Retrieved from : 
https://w ww.rappler.com /nation/246422-philippines-ranking-reading-m ath-science-pisa-study-2018. Accessed last 10 
December 2019


cases of abuse of mobile devices and electronic gadgets in the commission of other 
student misconducts such as cheating and bullying, as well as promote the 
responsible use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets.
LHILA M. DE LIMA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 1271
Senate
20 
JAN 16 P4X)5
rece;v : d b >':
Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA
AN ACT
REGULATING THE USE OF MOBII.E PHONES AND OTHER 
ELECTRONIC GADGETS TO STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARDEN TO 
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SC H O O I5
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Regulated Use of
2 
Mobile Phones and Electronic Gadgets in Schools Act”.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is the policy of the State to promote and
4 
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being of our youth
5 
and students. Toward this end, policies must be crafted to safeguard the well-being
6 
of our students, enhance their potentials and skills, and eliminate distractions that
7 
prevents them from performing poorly in school and provide them with a more
8 
focused, positive and supportive environment.
9 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following
10 
terms shall mean:
11 
a) Mobile Devices - any form of portable electronic devices, such as, but
12 
not limited to, smartphones, cellular phones, tablet computers, smart-
13 
watches and other similar devices which can send, receive and move
14 
data through the internet or wireless connection.


1 
b) Electronic Gadgets - any portable electronic device that can enable its
2 
user to make calls, capture photos, stream video and/or play games,
3 
such as, but not limited, to laptops, video game consoles, virtual reality
4 
headsets, smart glasses, wearable cameras and other similar
5 
contraptions.
6 
Sec. 4. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all public K-12 institutions under
7 
the control and supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd).
8 
Sec. 5. Regulation of the Use of Mobile Devices in School. -  The DepEd shall
9 
promulgate guidelines regulating the use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets in
10 
the schools covered under this Act. Said rules shall include, at the minimum, the
11 
following:
12 
1. Prohibition of use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets during class
13 
hours subject to allowable exceptions under the next Section;
14 
2. Prohibition of use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets in designated
15 
privacy areas, such as bathrooms, gyms, swimming pools, teachers’ lounge
16 
and school offices;
17 
3. Disciplinary action for students in violation of the prohibition on use of
18 
mobile devices and electronic gadgets;
19 
4. Procedure to be observed in cases of abuse of mobile devices and electronic
20 
gadgets in the commission of other student misconduct, such as cheating,
21 
bullying, cybercrime, and invasion of privacy;
22 
5. Promotion of responsible use of mobile devices and electronic gadgets,
23 
including during classroom discussions and parent-teacher conferences.
24 
It shall be deemed policy to discourage bringing mobile devices and electronic
25 
gadgets in schools except as provided in Section 6 of this Act.
26 
Sec. 6. Exceptions. -The following exceptions can be granted by the principal,
27 
school director, or by a teacher with the necessary documentation to be identified by
28 
the DepEd:
29 
a) Learning-related exceptions, such as class-based learning activities
30 
requiring the use of such technologies or for students for whom a


1 
reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of his
2 
or her disability and/or learning difficulty;
3 
b) Health and wellbeing-j'elated exceptions, such as students with specific
4 
health condition that may require communication or technology as
5 
certified by a medical doctor;
6 
c) Exceptions related to managing risk when students are not within the
7 
school premises and unsupervised with parental permission, such as
8 
field trips, on-the-job work immersions, and other related activities
9 
approved by the school administration.
10 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department of Education
11 
(DepEd), in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), representatives
12 
from the Parent-Teacher Associations and other concerned stakeholders and
13 
government agencies, shall, within Ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act,
14 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act.
15 
Sec. 8. Separability Cause. -  If any provision of this Act is declared
16 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby
17 
shall continue to be in full force and effect.
18 
Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
19 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
20 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
21 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
22 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved.