Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday encouraged the local government units to pass ordinances that would ban videoke sessions and other “loud” activities that can hamper online classes of students.
“Bilang mga disiplinado at responsableng mga magulang at mamamayan, tulungan natin ang ating mga estudyante na mabigyan ng tahimik at payapa na kapaligiran para sila ay makapag-aral ng mabuti sa kani-kanilang mga tahanan,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
(As disciplined and responsible parents and communities, let us help our students to provide them a conducive and peaceful environment to allow them to concentrate with their studies.)
This after the Department of Education (DepEd) switched to distance learning as public schools started their opening of classes on Oct. 5, Monday.
LGUs should also prohibit other noisy activities including “tupada, bingo, betting stations, and drinking sprees” to avoid disturbing students as well as prevent mass gatherings, the DILG chief also noted.
Año also urged motorists to avoid unnecessary blowing of horns during school hours which can distract learners in the neighborhood.
In a separate press briefing at San Juan City Hall, Mayor Francis Zamora said he is coordinating with the city council to create a law to ban videoke sessions in the city.
“Kakausapin ko ang sangguniang panglungsod para magpasa ng ordinansa na ipagbabawal po ang videoke. Sapagka’t dati ang mga bata nag-aaral sa mismong paaralan ngunit ngayon nag-aaral na sila sa kanilang mga tahanan at hindi naman pwede na habang nag-aaral sila, ay may nagkakantahan lalo na mga nagvi-videoke,” Zamora said.
(I will talk to the city council to pass an ordinance that would prohibit videoke. Because before, children are studying inside the schools but now they are studying inside their homes and it is no longer necessary that while there are students studying, there are people singing and creating videoke noise.)