Starting Monday, June 29, 2026, the town of Dumanjug in western Cebu will no longer allow students in public schools to bring or use mobile phones in campus.
In a post on Facebook on Sunday, June 28, 2026, Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica said this is a “total ban” and parents who disagree with the new rule can transfer their children outside of Dumanjug.
His post reads in full:
“To all school heads and district supervisors, and to all parents of our students:
No, in Dumanjug, it is a total ban.
There are no phones allowed in school. Starting Monday, if a student brings a phone, it will be confiscated and only returned at the end of the school year. If you do not wish to follow this policy, you have the option to transfer your children to another municipality.
We want our kids to read, study, and interact with their classmates.
At home, we expect parents to talk to their children, follow up on what they learned in school, and encourage healthy relationships between siblings and parents.”
STORYTIME OVER SCREENTIME
In a separate Facebook post on June 26, 2026, the mayor defended the decision to ban phones. A major reason for the policy is to cultivate the culture of reading back among students.
He said the town wants children to hold books instead of gadgets during their free time in school.
“Sa panahon sa recess, ting-paniudto, ug free time, imbes nga maggamit og gadget, mas nindot nga magbasa sila og mga libro. Atong tinguhaon nga mapulihan ug storytime ang screentime,” Gica said.
He said interacting with each other can help shape students' character.
He said it pains him to see children not communicating with each other because they are stuck to their gadgets. This practice, he said, needs to stop.
“Sakit tan-awon nga magkuyog ang mga bata apan walay tingogay kay pulos nagtutok sa cellphone. Igo na ug sakto na. Gusto nato nga mag-istoryahay sila, magkataw-anay, ug magpaambitay og mga idea sa personal. Makahimo og human connection,” he said.
He said he wants children in the town to be known not just for academic achievements but as examples of honesty, discipline, and faith.
EMERGENCY CASES
What happens when there is an emergency and students do not have phones?
The mayor said parents can reach out to teachers and schools officials who are allowed to bring mobile phones.
The teachers and school officials, too, can also reach out to parents.
“Ang mga maestro ug maestra pwede mag-cellphone: Gitugutan ang mga magtutudlo sa pagdala og cellphone alang sa opisyal nga komunikasyon. Kon duna moy importanteng mensahe sa inyong anak, ang eskwelahan ug ang mga maestro daling maka-contact ug daling makapahibalo kaninyo,” the mayor said.
Gica said parents can trust that the local government and government agencies in Dumanjug can protect the children.
He said the town’s Emergency Network is always at work: The police, firefighters, disaster risk reduction personnel, and barangay officials are always ready to respond to emergencies.
“Kami sa munisipyo, kauban ang komunidad, maoy inyung katambayayong alang sa seguridad ug kahapsay sa Dumanjug. Ang pagkamaayo nagsugod sa disiplina ug lig-on nga karakter, ug kini atong hugot nga ipatuman. Ipakita nato sa tanan kon unsa ang tinuod nga Dumanjuganon!” the mayor said.
