Pokemon Go, a smartphone game, that has fast become a household byword alarmed provincial officials as the obsession of catching Pokemons can make users oblivious to impending accidents.

Aside from road accidents, the provincial officials also expressed alarm that Pokemon Go player might attract snatchers.

In a privilege speech during the regular session last Friday, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Member Tomas  Abapo Jr. cited an incident in Bacolod City where three minors whose cellphones were snatched while playing Pokemon Go on the road earlier this month.

The player has to go to public places where virtual Pokemons are tracked, exposing them to traffic accidents and to snatchers.

Locations of Pokemons are synchronized with the locations of players and landmarks tracked in the Global Positioning System (GPS).

When the player runs out of Pokemon balls that are used to catch sighted Pokemons, he has to either purchase Pokemon balls online or go to Pokemon Stops to gather Pokemon balls and eggs.

This process requires the player to go to public places or landmarks in GPS identified as PokeStops.

Bigger landmarks are also identified as Pokemon Go gyms where players engage in combat with other players through their hoard of Pokemons.

Obviously, these processes require players to go from one place to another to the extent of crossing streets with eyes on their cellphones, making them prone to accidents.

Abapo also cited reports about road accidents caused by those who played Pokemon Go while driving.

Some of the identified PokeStops are the Bohol Museum, DATODA terminal, Plaza Rizal fountain, Bohol Provincial Library, Old West Calesa or the Garden Café Restaurant, Knights of Columbus Recreation Center, HNU Medical Center, some areas around the ICM, courts, offices, and many other landmarks tracked in the GPS.

Some of the identified Pokemon Go gyms are Dao Integrated Bus Terminal, St. Joseph Cathedral, K of C areas, and many other bigger landmarks in GPS.

Pokemon balls can also be found inside school campuses that it has already disturbed students.

The SP members referred Abapo’s move to the Committee on Education chaired by SP Member Elpidio Jala who used to be the provincial schools division superintendent of Bohol.

Jala’s committee is tasked to study on measures to address the concern raised by Abapo.

Recently, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu passed a resolution urging the Department of Education (DepEd)-7 regional office to issue an order prohibiting the playing of Pokemon Go inside school premises.