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Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Icac backs new measure
The Internet Café Association of Cebu (Icac) expressed its support to the proposed ordinance barring elementary and high school students from entering Internet cafés during school hours.
“We have no objection to the good intention of the proposed ordinance,” said Icac president Felix Cogal Jr. in an interview last Saturday.
However, Icac wants some clarifications on how the measure will be implemented.
“How do we identify students from out-of-school youths? They could just easily take their school uniforms off and change their clothes or perhaps hide their IDs,” he said.
Position
In its position paper furnished to Sun.Star Cebu, Icac also questioned why Internet cafés are being singled out in the ordinance.
“Students cut classes not only because of Internet cafés but also because of billiard halls, malls and video games hall, among others,” he said.
Cebu City Councilor Arsenio Pacaña proposed to amend Ordinance 1901, also known as the Internet café, joint station, center or similar business ordinance of Cebu City, that only regulates the distance of Internet cafés from schools and universities in the city.
The ordinance, however, has no provision that prohibits students from entering Internet cafés during school hours.
Clearance
In Pacaña’s proposal, students can enter Internet cafés during class hours only and if they have a written approval from school authorities, like principals or guidance counselors.
Cogal, however, expressed concern if this provision could be implemented and questioned its practicality.
“If a school has 5,000 students and 10 percent of them would avail themselves of the services of the Internet during school hours, then 500 students would be lining up for the clearance,” Icac’s paper said.
The ordinance also defines school hours as starting from 7:30 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m.
“But there are morning sessions and afternoon sessions in the elementary and high school levels. There are also students taking night classes. Should we deny the students who come to Internet cafes on these hours even if they don’t have classes?” Cogal pointed out.
The proposed amendment will “displace well-meaning students who would wish to access the Internet café for research and information and other services,” the group said.
The Cebu City Council was set to hold last week a public hearing on the draft ordinance. But Icac representatives reportedly did not show up to present their position paper despite the invitation.
Cogal, however, denied receiving any invitation to the public hearing.
“We didn’t know about it. And about our position paper, we have already submitted it to the committee on laws sometime in April,” he told Sun.Star Cebu. (ALC)
(September 27, 2005 issue)
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