Tabuk passes anti-truancy measure

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The City Council passed recently an anti-truancy ordinance prohibiting elementary and high school students in the city from lingering outside of school compound during class hours.

The move came after legislative researches revealed that “truants” or students are seen loitering in public places during school hours, disregarding the standing policy that students incurring 20 absences are considered dropped.

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The City Council also pushed for the enactment of this ordinance since some students are involved in prohibited activities and become victims of street crimes as researches showed.

“This ordinance, therefore, aims to protect the interest of pupils and students for the peace of mind of their parents and guardians by isolating them from the effects of societal ills and also to control juvenile delinquency both in the public and private schools,” the law states.

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

The ordinance also provided the creation and composition of the anti-truancy board to implement the law.

For the first offense, violators are referred to the Social Welfare and development Office for counseling.

Further violations will bring them to the barangay council to determine the penalty.

Parents, guardians, teachers, business operators found guilty are also given the corresponding fine both by imprisonment or payment of monetary fine.