CUTTING class may soon become prohibited by law in the Valley.
The Municipal Council recently approved for third and final reading the proposed ordinance “Regulating truancy for primary and secondary school students’ in Valley.”
The proposed law focuses on primary and secondary students caught loitering during class hours will be submitted for intervention program pursuant to the provisions of the existing Ordinance No. 13-2012, or the Juvenile Welfare Ordinance of the La Trinidad.
Authored by councilor Roderick Awingan, "it is unlawful for students to stay or linger in public or private places outside school campus during school hours."
Thus the council is seeking for the executive body’s approval to penalize not only the class cutting students but also their guardians and the establishments who violates the proposed law.
Stated in the proposed decree, it is unlawful for any parent or guardian not to allow their children to go to school while business establishments are also prohibited to welcome them to loiter inside their vicinity during school hours.
According to Awingan the law is being pushed to provide solutions to the growing problem among parents and school administrations regarding students on truancy because they can be seen elsewhere during class hours.
This includes public and private places such as parks, computer shops, and shopping malls to name a few.
In the provisions set parents or guardians, or teacher or any school authority who willfully violates the regulations including establishments shall be subjected to fines.
An amount of P500 pesos will be collected in the first offence increasing to P1,000 up to P2,500 on the second and third offenses, while additional charges or closure of business establishments will be applied in case of violation of the proposed law.
Exemptions will only be permissible if students will leave school due to emergency purposes, with given authorization from their teachers, or for any valid reason providing he/she has permission from any school authority.
The proposal is still subjected for endorsement to the Municipal Mayor’s Office, approved it will eventually be subjected for publication or if vetoed will return to the council for further action.