BURGOS–Yes, there is life without cellular phones.

This is what students of public schools here are finding out while inside school campuses.

Mayor Domingo Doctor has ordered a ban on the carrying and use of mobile phones inside all public school campuses in the town as part of an effort to discipline the youth.

While the youth are naturally not happy with the new law, Domingo said parents and teachers have heartily welcomed it.

“Tuwang-tuwa naman lalo ang mga magulang nila sa akin, lalo na yong mga may anak na pasaway,” Doctor told The PUNCH.

Doctor decided to impose the “no cellular phone policy in campuses” following complaints over the years on the unregulated use of the mobile phones by inattentive students during class hours.

Under the new policy, students caught for the first time will have their phones confiscated and turned over to them at the end of the class; second offense means longer period (at least one week) of confiscation and the third offense means the seized item can be recovered only at the end of the school year.

He added that while teachers are not covered by the order, he expects them to act as “role models” to the students by refraining from using their own cellphones while inside the classrooms.

Doctor, a retired army officer, said he himself went around confiscating phones from students on the first day of his policy’s implementation to show them that the order will be seriously observed.

Policemen and security guards are now tasked to check students’ bags daily.

“The added bonus to the policy is that other items that students normally carry like cigarettes or bladed weapons are now discovered and also seized,” he said.

While petty wars among students are few and far in between here, said the mayor, the routine checking of bags serves as a preemptive measure.

He said he does not mind being tagged a “military ruler” by the complaining students because the policy helps impose discipline on our young besides the parents like it, so I don’t see any problem there.”

In emergency cases, he said, students can relay their needs to the teachers and they will be assisted.

Truant students caught walking around town are required to clean the school’s premises or jog as punishment. #

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