https://ph.theasianparent.

com/anti-bullying-act-helping-schools-keep-child-safe/
Anti Bullying Act: Helping Schools Keep Your Child Safe
Children have the right to be protected against violence and abuse. Read the article to know how you can
protect your child with the anti bullying act.
The Anti Bullying Act: Helping Schools Keep Your Child Safe
Every person has the right to be protected against violence and abuse, and your children are no exception. As
parents, you do all that you can to shelter and keep your children safe from harm. But it is only a matter of time
before these children grow, and you will no longer be able to keep a watchful eye on them all day. Such is the
case when they begin to go to school. It is for this reason that the Anti Bullying Act has been established by
the Philippine Government.
Among the biggest fears of parents, and one of the reasons why many consider home- schooling, is that their
children might be bullied while within school premises. Sadly, such cases do occur, both in the elementary and
high school levels, and even in college. As of 2013, with the implementation of the Anti Bullying Act, schools
have become better able to protect their students against acts of abuse from their peers.
What Constitutes Bullying?
Under this Anti Bullying Act, it states that bullying occurs when one or more of the following occur as a result of
verbal, physical or even electronic or online actions by one or a group of students:
• A student fears possible physical or emotional harm, or damage to his or her property
• A student views the school as a hostile, unsafe environment
• A student’s rights have been violated
• Disruption of the learning process, and the security and order within the school grounds
It has been made clear that bullying, in this case, goes beyond physical harm such as punching, pushing or
kicking. It also includes verbal abuse that causes emotional or psychological turmoil to a child, or wrongly aims
to taint another student’s reputation. Cyber-bulling is also addressed by the Anti Bullying Act, and rightly so, as
most students these days have access to the internet and mobile devices.
Know Your Child’s Rights Under the Anti Bullying Act
The policies under the Anti Bullying Act clearly protects students against bullying while on school grounds and
within its perimeter. It also takes effect at school functions or programs, whether these are within the school
grounds or at an outside venue. Even school buses and carpools are covered by the Anti Bullying Act, given
that they are owned, leased by or accredited by the school. Finally, students are also protected from acts of
bullying that result from or through technological or electronic devices owned by the school.
Other malicious acts may also be considered as protected by the Anti Bullying Act if they cause a student to
feel that he or she is unsafe in school, and in effect, affecting the students’ learning process. As for students
who report cases of bullying, or are witnesses to acts of bullying, they are also protected by this act, and any
form of violence or abuse directed towards them may also be sanctioned.
The Responsibility of Protecting A Student
The responsibility of the school goes beyond that of a learning facility. It must also be able to provide a safe
venue for students to learn, develop and thrive. With the Anti Bullying Act in place, parents and students alike
can now feel that the school is a place where they can be protected as well. Students, faculty, and school staff
are also enjoined to do their part by reporting any acts of bullying that they witness or hear about, whether
physical or emotional. Taking action helps make your school a safe place.

http://www.psst.ph/bullying-in-the-philippines/
Bullying in the Philippines
AUGUST 26, 2016 by SHERYL ANN DATUKON0
A few weeks ago, an incident outraged netizens about how a Badjao girl was bullied in a reality TV show. Furthermore, a
timely challenge of posting a before and after picture of yourself together with the hashtag
#BeCarefulWhoYouBullyChallenge went viral. Shockingly, a lot of people shared their pictures and stories.
What does this really mean?
photo credit: www.emaze.com
What is bullying?
Bullying is an act of unwanted and aggressive behavior towards other people which may involve a real or perceived
power imbalance. Examples of bullying are making threats, attacking someone physically or verbally, spreading rumors
or anything that may ruin a person’s image. This usually starts during the school age but can be applied to all ages.
In the Philippines, 2 out of 10 children per day experience being made fun of, name calling, and making the child do
something he/she doesn’t want to do. Since the statistics were quite alarming, this prompted the House of
Representatives to approved a bill requiring elementary and secondary schools to include and implement anti-bullying
policies in their students. To monitor its effectivity, the schools are obligated to submit and report incidents to the
DepEd.
It can happen to anyone.
Bullying is not just present at school but it can also happen at the workplace, or worse, at home. With the digital era
rising, bullying has now been upgraded to online bullying (or what they call as cyber bullying). People can now silently
harass or terrorize anyone with just a click away. Many fall victims from being a viral topic online that makes them
uncomfortable, powerless and even to the point of receiving death threats. Sadly, the Philippines hold the fourth spot in
countries which are high in cyber bullying. Because of the increasing number of bullying cases, the Social Media
Regulation Act of 2014 was made. This is to address people who suffered mental and psychological anguish from the act.
Any person guilty of the act will be penalize with six to 12 years of imprisonment and a fine ranging between P30, 000
and P50,000 depending on the court.
What can you do to stop Bullying?
 Be a role model.
Children often mimic what they see in older people. Impart them with values of respect and empathy towards other
children.
 Talk to your children
Children will often be silent about being bullied. Encourage them to share their experiences during the day. If they are
bullied, talk to them about how to properly handle the situation and how to avoid such behavior.
 Build your support group
Everyone needs someone to talk to. Whether in school or workplace, it is best to have someone you can rant on and
give you an advise.
 Learn the issue
Sometimes it can be just a simple miscommunication. It is best to be educated and informed of the problem to be able
to find ways how to fix it.
 Stay strong
Bullying attacks your inner sense of confidence and self-esteem. If you think you did not do something bad, do not let it
bring you down. Chin up and walk away.
 Talk to the person
Sometimes one solution to end the bullying is to directly confront the person. This may have positive or negative
outcome but it can bring out the true cause of the bullying.
There are a lot of ways to stop bullying. We just have to start within ourselves first and share to the community to do
the same.

http://www.philstar.com/opinion/2015/09/29/1505078/editorial-bullied

Every day in this country, 31 incidents of bullying are reported in schools. The daily average, as recorded by the
Department of Education, could be higher since many victims of bullying may be reluctant to report the assaults.
The DepEd report, made available to the House of Representatives, is a cause for deep concern. As in other countries,
bullying in school, even when it does not involve physical violence, can be just as harmful and, in certain cases, can be
deadly. In recent years, student suicides attributed to bullying in schools have been reported in this country.
The Internet and social media have facilitated bullying, with parents and school administrators unfamiliar with the
technology and unprepared to deal with the problem. The DepEd report should lead to better ways of discouraging
bullying and assisting victims.
Last year, the department recorded 6,363 complaints about bullying in both public and private elementary and
high schools, or an average of 31 cases for each of the 201 school days. The number was about 21 percent higher than
the 5,236 complaints recorded in 2013.
In May 2012, the DepEd had directed schools to set up child protection committees to discourage bullying,
discrimination, exploitation, violence and other forms of abuse. In 2013, the Anti-Bullying Law or Republic Act 10627 was
enacted. The twin measures may have encouraged more victims to report cases of bullying and other forms of abuse last
year. But the thousands of recorded cases indicate that more effort is needed to prevent bullying.
School authorities and parents need training in responding to the problem, including spotting victims who are scared to
complain. Parents, teachers and school administrators need training particularly in dealing with bullying through social
media, which has driven students in other countries to commit suicide.
There are measures to protect school children from armed violence, drug dealers, muggers and other criminals
as well as certain types of accidents. As DepEd records show, however, sometimes the most worrisome threats are
posed by fellow school children. Authorities need to improve responses to these threats.

http://www.elegal.ph/republic-act-no-10627-the-anti-bullying-act/
RA 10627: The Anti-Bullying Act
By Disini Law Office on January 22, 2015 in Litigation
A Primer
A. Introduction
Republic Act 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act (the “Act”), aims to protect children enrolled in kindergarten,
elementary, and secondary schools and learning centers (collectively, “Schools”) from being bullied. It requires
Schools to adopt policies to address the existence of bullying in their respective institutions.
B. Bullying
1. What is Bullying?
Bullying, as defined under the Act, is any severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal
or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another student
that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or
damage to his property; creating a hostile environment at school for the other student; infringing on the rights
of the other student at school; or materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly
operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:
Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking,
slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as
weapons;
Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;
Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress like directing foul
language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim’s looks,
clothes and body; and
Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means. The term shall also
include any conduct resulting to harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, through the use of other forms of
technology, such as, but not limited to texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, internet, social media,
online games, or other platforms or formats.
Social bullying, or any deliberate, repetitive and aggressive social behavior intended to hurt others or to
belittle another individual or group.
Gender-based bullying, or any act that humiliates or excludes a person on the basis of perceived or actual
sexual orientation and gender identity.
As such, any person who commits any of the foregoing acts, is considered a bully. Furthermore, any act of
retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information during an investigation of bullying,
or who is a witness to or has reliable information about bullying, is likewise prohibited.
2. Where may bullying be committed?
Bullying may happen at the following:
School grounds;
Property immediately adjacent to School grounds;
School-sponsored or School-related activities, functions or programs whether on or off School grounds;
School bus stops;
School buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a School; or
School buses or School services privately-owned but accredited by the School.
Bullying may also occur at unrelated locations, functions or programs, through the use of technology or an
electronic device or other forms of media, regardless if such is owned, leased, or used by the School.
C. School Obligations
1. What are required of Schools under the Act?
Schools are directed to adopt policies, which are to be regularly updated, to address the existence of bullying
in their respective institutions. These policies are to be reported to the appropriate school division
superintendent of the Department of Education (“Department”) during the first week of every academic year.
During this period, the School shall also submit a report of relevant information and statistics on bullying and
retaliation culled from the previous academic year.
2. What must these policies contain?
First of all, the policies must prohibit bullying as already defined. Schools must likewise define the range of
administrative disciplinary actions that may be taken against a bully, or a person who commits
retaliation.These actions must be commensurate with the nature and gravity of the offense committed. Such
actions may include written reprimands, community service, suspension, exclusion or expulsion, as the case
may be.In addition to any action taken against a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation must necessarily include
the requirement that the perpetrator enter into a rehabilitation program administered by the School.
The School shall also educate parents and guardians about bullying, its effects, the anti-bullying policies of the
School, and how such parents or guardians can provide support in imparting upon their charges the gravity of
bullying, and to reinforce the policies of the School. The School shall provide the students and their parents or
guardians with copies of these policies, which shall likewise be included in the student and employee manual
of the School.
The School shall likewise establish clear procedures and strategies for:
Reporting acts of bullying or retaliation. The School must provide an avenue wherein students may
anonymously report acts of bullying or retaliation;
Responding promptly to and investigating reports of bullying or retaliation;
Restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing the student’s need for protection;
Protecting from bullying or retaliation of a person who reports acts of bullying, provides information during an
investigation of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable information about an act of bullying; and
Providing counseling or referral to appropriate services for perpetrators, victims and appropriate family
members of said students;
In all cases wherein a penalty may possibly be imposed, due process must be observed to prevent false
accusations of bullying. At a minimum, the School complies with the requirements of due process by:
Informing the student and parent or guardian of the complaint in writing;
Giving the student, with the assistance of his parents or guardian, an opportunity to answer the complaint in
writing;
Requiring the School head to issue the decision, in writing, and stating the facts and reasons thereof; and
Allowing an appeal for the decision with the appropriate division office of the Department.
Any student, after due investigation, found to have knowingly made a false accusation of bullying shall be
subjected to appropriate disciplinary action or intervention in accordance with the rules of the School or the
Department.
3. Who will implement these anti-bullying policies of the School?
The School’s Child Protection Committee (“Committee”) shall serve as the body which will handle all bullying
cases in the School. The Committee shall be composed of:
the School head or administrator as chairperson;
the School guidance counselor/teacher as vice chairperson;
a representative of the Schools teachers as designated by the School faculty;
a representative of the parents as designated by the Parents-Teachers Association;
a representative of the students, except in kindergarten, as designated by the student council; and
a representative of the community as designated by the barangay captain wherein the school is located. The
inclusion of a community representative may be dispensed with by private Schools.
4. What are the duties of the Committee?
Under the Act, they shall perform the following:
Conduct awareness-raising programs with school stakeholders in preventing and addressing bullying;
Ensure that the anti-bullying policy adopted by the School is implemented;
Monitor all cases or incidents related to all reported cases of bullying; and
Make the necessary referrals to appropriate agencies, offices or persons, as may be required by the
circumstances.
5. How does the School treat the information in bullying cases?
Any information relating to the identity and personal circumstances of the bully, victim, or person who
reported or witnessed the incident shall be treated with utmost confidentiality by the Committee and the
School, provided, that the names may only be available to the School head or administrator, teacher or
guidance counselor designated by the school head, and parents or guardians of students who are or have
been victims of bullying or retaliation.
6. What happens if the School, or its personnel, fails to comply with the Act?
School personnel of public Schools shall be subject to administrative disciplinary proceedings under the rules
of the Civil Service or the Department. Erring personnel of private Schools shall be subject to appropriate
administrative disciplinary proceedings imposed by the private School. Copies of such decisions shall be
submitted by the private School to the Department’s division office.
Private Schools which fail to comply with the Act and its IRR shall be shall be given notice of such failure by the
Department’s division office. The School shall be given thirty (30) days within which to comply. A further
extension of one (1) month may me be granted by the Department’s Regional Director in meritorious cases.
Failure to comply with the Act or its IRR may cause the School’s suspension, or revocation of license.
Download the full text of RA 10627.

https://evsucielloigana.wordpress.com/anti-bullying/
Anti-Bullying Act of 2012
MANILA, Philippines — After an Anti-bullying movement in the 2000s and 2010s gained popularity in the
United States and United Kingdom, the Charity Act Against Bullying was formed in the United Kingdom in
2003, and National Bullying Prevention Month was declared in the United States in 2006.
In the Philippines, the House of Representatives has approved a bill requiring all elementary and secondary
schools to adopt anti-bullying policies. House Bill 5496, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012, seeks to promote greater
awareness of the impact of bullying and how it can be prevented.
The bill requires that anti-bullying policies be included in the school’s student and employee handbook; details
of the policies should be posted in school websites and school walls; schools shall submit their anti-bullying
policies to the Department of Education (DepEd) within six months upon effectivity of the law; bullying
incidents in schools must be reported to the division superintendents, who in turn shall report to the
Education Secretary; and the DepEd must submit a report on bullying incidents to the appropriate
congressional committee and impose sanctions on school administrators who do not implement anti-bullying
policies.
Bullying is now the number one non-academic issue that most educators face, and is one of the top concerns
of many parents. Defined as an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another
person either emotionally, verbally, or physically, bullying is characterized by an individual behaving in a
certain way to gain power over another person. Bullies may behave this way out of jealousy or because they
themselves are bullied. When they leave school, they will most likely carry on their bullying in the workplace.
With the approval of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012, this year has started just right, providing relief for the
millions of students who experience bullying in school. It is hoped that the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 will help
schools create an environment where children can develop their full potentials with suffering bullying from
others.
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
Why schools should be concerned about bullying?
1. Head teachers must by law have a policy to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. Challenging
bullying effectively will improve the safety and happiness of pupils, show that the school cares and
make clear to bullies that the behaviour is unacceptable.
2. Head teachers will need to satisfy themselves that their policies comply with the Human Rights Act
1998 (in force from 2 October 2000).
The School Board of Broward County has approved the first school district Anti-Bullying Policy in Florida. The
policy, which was adopted on July 22, was designed by the District’s Office of Prevention Programs and
Student Support Services, under the Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant initiative.
The Florida Department of Education will utilize the new policy as a model for the state’s other 66 school
districts. The policy was developed prior to the passage of House Bill 669, which mandates that all districts in
the state adopt Anti-Bullying policies by December 1, 2008.
The District’s Anti-Bullying Policy specifically prohibits bullying of or by any District student or employee, with
consequences for those acts that meet the definition of bullying as defined in the policy:
“Bullying” means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or
more students or employees.
The policy sets forth guidelines for the identification and reporting of bullying – as the overall goal of the
initiative is the protection of students and their increased feelings of safety and belonging. The policy requires
teachers and staff to utilize a variety of prevention and intervention activities and includes tools and resources
that create environments of safety and respect and expectations of appropriate behavior.
The Anti-Bullying Policy was developed by a District task force, which included community and parental
involvement.
Congress approves anti-bullying bill
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – A bill that seeks to require education institutions to create an anti-bullying
policy was recently approved by the House of Representatives.
House Bill 5496, co-authored by Representative Christopher Co (AKO BICOL party-list) and called the “Anti-
Bullying Act of 2012”, requires elementary and secondary schools to set guidelines on bullying.
A handbook on bullying prevention and measures will be distributed to students, teachers, parents and
guardians.
The Anti-Bullying Law would also require all new schools to include policies prior to operation.
In addition, all incidences related to bullying must be reported to the division superintendents.
In turn, the reports will be sent to and compiled by the Department of Education (DepEd). The agency will
then file its reports on bullying incidents to the House of Representatives’ congressional committees involved
in education.
DepEd must also impose sanctions on schools that do not comply to the Anti-Bullying measures.
A similar measure on bullying was also filed by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV last year.
Bullying can be summed up as causing physical and emotional abuse against another person. Most incidents
of bullying in the Philippines go unreported primarily because of the shame that victims go through.
Children who do not recover from bullying may become socially withdrawn as they grow up.
Apart from physical bullying, some children also experience “cyberbullying” through their mobile phones or
the Internet.
DepEd said last year it will be coming up with more comprehensive measures on child protection, which
includes measures against bullying. Education Secretary Armin Luistro cited Republic Act 7610 that identifies
the types of abuse that children may suffer. This law encompasses bullying.
Fighting bullying in schools
MANILA, Philippines?It has been nearly a decade ago but Anne (not her real name) still remembers how her
third grade math teacher bashed her head onto the blackboard and demeaned her in front of the class after
she failed to answer a math problem.
She did not tell her parents about the incident for fear that her teacher will fail her in the subject. But apart
from the physical pain, Anne was more affected by the humiliation she got?enough so that she refused to go
to school after the incident.
?Pinapagalitan ako ng mama at papa ko kasi ayaw ko na pumasok. Napahiya ako at nawalan ng tiwala sa sarili.
Mula nun hindi na ako nag-recite ulit sa klase (My parents scolded me because I didn?t want to go to school
again. I was humiliated and I lost confidence. After that I never participated in class recitations again),? Anne
said in an interview.
Now a college student, Anne has become an advocate against violence against children especially in schools,
considered to be children?s second home and places for learning.
In a study commissioned by the United Nations Children?s Fund, the Council for the Welfare of Children, and
Plan International, it was found that most students in the grade school and high school have experienced
various forms of abuse either from their peers or from their teachers.
The study, titled Towards a Child-Friendly Education Environment: A Baseline Study on Violence Against
Children in Public Schools, surveyed a total of 6,931 public grade school and high school students, of which 51
percent are females and 49 percent are males. The results of the study were made public in an event at Sulo
Hotel in Quezon City last week.
The study aims ?to explore the dimensions of violence against children in schools, mapping out in broad
strokes its definition(s), and the perception and attitudes of children and adults on the issue.?
The study covered schools in urban areas like Manila, Cebu City and Davao City, and rural areas like the
Mountain Province, Masbate, Camotes Island in Cebu, Northern Samar, Capiz, and Sultan Kudarat.
The study also included interviews with 65 school principals and administrators, and 24 counselors.
The study defined violence against children as ?any act that violates children?s rights, particularly their right to
physical and mental health, security and bodily integrity.?
The study revealed that children?s perception of violence is focused on acts that hurt them physically or
emotionally.
This even includes punishment given to them by teachers for misbehaving like being made to squat, stand in
the corner of a room, or stand under the sun (commonly practiced in schools in rural areas).
Although the children generally understood that these punishments are a way of disciplining them, the
respondents said that they prefer a more positive way like being talked to or counseled by their teachers.
Respondents also said they consider bullying, being called stupid or other demeaning terms, being teased by
their classmate, or being completely ignored by the people around them as a form of abuse.
?Children suffer more acts of violence from their peers than from adults in school while younger children
experience physical violence from adults more often,? the study read.
?Teasing from peers often perceived as child?s play was perceived as an ?abuse? since this is made to
humiliate or demean the victims,? the study added.
Michael, 19 and a homosexual, said that he has experienced being bullied and discriminated by his classmates
because of his sexual orientation. But he said that he has gotten used to it by now.
Among the recommendations made under the study was to expand the public?s knowledge on laws
protecting children and where to get assistance through community education programs and strengthening
ties with media partners to advocate against violence against children.
Meanwhile, CWC chairperson and Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman
said that she finds the results of the study alarming.
?Kami ng DepEd, Unicef, ng CWC at sa DSWD ay nag-aalala. Na-aalarma na kami na ang ganitong sitwasyon ay
lumabas sa pag-aaral at kinakailangang gawan ng hakbang para ito ay makureksyonan (The DepEd, Unicef,
CWC, and the DSWD are worried. We are alarmed that this kind of situation surfaced in this study and we have
to take steps to correct this),? Soliman said in a chance interview after the launch.
She said that a main concern would be the Philippine culture or belief that forms of punishment are
considered ways of disciplining children.
?Ang isang hamon ay sa kultura natin, sa tingin natin ang disiplina ay magagawa lamang kung may marahas na
parusa kaya iyon yung isang kailangan pagtulungan naming ng DepEd (One challenge is our culture wherein we
think that discipline may only be attained through harsh punishments, so we have to work closely with the
DepEd in that regard),? Soliman said.
Soliman recommended that Parent-Teacher Associations and boards of public schools be empowered to help
protect the rights of children. She added that there are programs under the DSWD like the Parent
Effectiveness Seminar and Erpat (Father) which gives counsel to fathers with history of abuse.
?The media should also become partners in this advocacy by showing TV shows and movies which are non-
violent,? Soliman said.
Meanwhile, Department of Education?s Alberto Muyot said the department will work closely with concerned
stakeholders.
?We have to address the issues raised by the children in the study. We will look into this. We?ll work closely
with the Council for the Welfare of Children on their recommendations kasi medyo general pa yung
recommendations sila so bibigyan natin ng detalye (because their recommendations are mostly generalities so
we will fill in the details),? the education official said.
Students or parents may report abuses in schools through the DepEd?s Legal and Legislative Affairs, Muyot
said, but he urged complainants to follow through on their reports.
?Ang hinihingi lang po namin ay ang kooperasyon ng mga magulang nung mga bata na kapag kami nagpadala
ng mag-iimbestiga sana maki-cooperate sila para makuha namin yung salaysay nung mga bata (All we ask is for
the cooperation of the parents, so that when we send people to conduct an investigation, please cooperate in
allowing us to get the testimony of the children),? Muyot said.
He added that teachers or other school employees found guilty of physically or verbally abusing students may
be suspended or dismissed from service, as per the civil service law.
Meanwhile, Anne urged other victims of abuse in schools to report incidents to authorities.
?Humanap kayo ng makakatulong sa problema at wag kayo matakot. Magsumbong kayo sa magulang nyo
(Look for people that can help you with your problem and don?t be afraid. Tell your parents),? Anne said,
adding that she hopes the results of the study will prevent more cases of child abuse.

https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/manila-bulletin/20170217/281560880551631 (cannot copy)

https://news.mb.com.ph/2017/07/12/deped-to-schools-monitor-address-bullying-child-abuse-cases/

DepEd to schools: Monitor, address bullying, child abuse cases

Published July 12, 2017, 4:43 PM
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded administrators and teachers of both public and private
elementary and high schools to ensure that incidents of child abuse and bullying in their schools are reported.
Undersecretary Alberto Muyot, in DepEd Memorandum No. 114 series of 2017, reiterated the “reportorial
obligation” of schools, division offices and regional offices pursuant to DepEd Order No. 40 s. or 2012 or the
“Child Protection Policy”; the DO no. 55 series of 2013 of the “Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic
Act (RA) No. 10627 or the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013” and the DO no. 18 s. of 2015 or the “DepEd Guidelines
and Procedures on the Management of Children-At-Risk (CAR) and Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL).
Muyot said both public and private elementary and secondary schools shall submit accomplished reports on
incidents of bullying, child abuse, and cases involving CAR and CICL in schools.
Schools are also required to submit copies of school-based child protection policy and anti-bullying policy
certifying their adoption of the CPC and report on the status of their established Child Protection Committee
(CPC).
These reports should be submitted to the SDOs a week after the school opening.

http://www.manilatimes.net/schools-deped-should-address-bullying/176156/
Dear PAO,
I believe that my son is being bullied in school, and I know we have a law against bullying but I am not familiar with it.
Please help me. I want to know the remedies available to me.
Kim
Dear Kim,
The recent rise of incidents of bullying in schools reported in traditional and social media prompted our
government, particularly our Legislature, to enact a law requiring all elementary and secondary schools to
adopt policies to prevent and address such acts. This law is Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10627, otherwise
known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.
Under the law, “bullying” is defined as any severe or repeated use of a written, verbal or electronic
expression, and/or a physical act or gesture by a student directed at another student causing or placing
the victim in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property, creating a hostile
environment at school for him, infringing on his rights, or materially and substantially disrupting the
education process or the orderly operation of a school (Sec. 2, R.A. No.10627). This includes unwanted
physical contact like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school
pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as weapons, making any slanderous statement
or accusation like directing foul language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and
commenting negatively on victim’s looks, clothes and body, and cyber-bullying. (Ibid.) Cyber-bullying
refers to any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means including texting, email,
instant messaging, chatting, internet, social media, online games, or other platforms (Sec. 3(b),
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 10627).
To address the matter, all elementary and secondary schools are directed to adopt policies to address
bullying in their respective institutions prohibiting it on school grounds, or at school-sponsored or school-
related activities, and providing disciplinary administrative action against the bully or retaliation on persons
reporting the bullying incident, among others (Sec. 3, R.A. No. 10627).
The school principal or any person who holds a comparable role shall be responsible for the
implementation and oversight of policies intended to address bullying. Hence, a complaint concerning
bullying must be reported to the school principal or other school officer designated by the principal to
handle such issues. (Sec. 4, Id.) In consequence, complaints of bullying are within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Department of Education or the concerned private school and shall not be brought for
amicable settlement before the Barangay (Sec. 10 (A), IRR of R.A. No. 10627).
Upon complaint, the school personnel designated to handle bullying incident shall investigate the matter.
If proven, a penalty may be imposed on the bully in the form of written reprimand, community service,
suspension, exclusion or expulsion depending on the nature and gravity of the offense. In addition, the
bully shall also be required to undergo an intervention program. (Sec. 10(B)(f), Id.)
Please note that the remedy provided above does not preclude the filing of other complaints. Hence,
when the act complained of violates other laws, civil or criminal, a separate action may still be filed in
court to vindicate the rights of the offended party.
We hope you find this opinion useful. Please bear in mind that this opinion is based on the facts you
narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary if facts are changed or elaborated.

http://aboutmyrecovery.com/bullying-in-philippine-schools/

Bullying in Philippine Schools

Lauren Thursday, May 17, 2012
Updated May 17 , 2012– I recently appeared on Talkback with Tina Palma on Bullying. This is my updated post on
Bullying in Philippine Schools and added the latest Department of Education policy on bullying.

This is a guest post by my daughter, Lauren. I’ve always wanted to tackle the topic of bullying for a long time now since I
was so problematic about it during Lauren’s early years at school. The harrowing effects of bullying are best illustrated by
the victim. In this case, Lauren tells her story.

Photo Credit: kidsgoals.com

I attended a private, all-girl schools from elementary up until high school and I can tell you – those were far from the
best years of my life. I don’t know if it’s really in my nature to be shy and socially awkward or if my experiences in school
turned me into that kind of person. One thing I do know is that a lot of the insecurities I have about myself is rooted in
the fact that I got bullied a lot during my early elementary school years.
I can never forget my first bully. Her name is Kathleen and her family owned the school bus service I rode to school and
back during my elementary years. We were both in grade one and for some strange reason, she took an instant dislike to
me. I have no idea why – I’ve always been a quiet sort of kid who always stood out of other people’s way and I can’t
remember doing or saying anything that would make her hate me. But hate me she did. She never beat me up or
anything – oh no, girls are way more subtle and cruel than that. She had her own circle of friends and was somehow able
to convince them to hate me as well, Going to school every morning and coming home in the late afternoon was a ritual
I always dreaded. I got stuck in the worst seat, never got snacks passed my way, and pretty much had to beg the other
girls to let me join their games whenever we’d get stuck in traffic.
There were many others after Kathleen – the girls who made fun of me for spending my lunch hours reading in the
library, the girls who decided that I had a crush on this other girl and humiliated me about it every chance they got, even
a teacher who spent an entire homeroom period picking on me because I got bored one day and felt like passing a
survey in class asking if anyone else hates math as much as I do. I’m pretty sure there was more but I must have buried
those memories in my subconscious somewhere. I do know that my grades went down drastically, I took to daydreaming
and paying little or no attention in class, and wrote my mom a lot of notes about the “terrable days” I would have in
school.
One of the many notes Lauren would write me from school.
Things didn’t get any better for me when I attended high school. I moved to a different school and made the mistake of
speaking to my new classmates in English on the first day. For that reason, or whatever other reason, they decided I was
weird and I spent the next four years trying and failing to fit in.
I know that my experiences as a bully victim don’t sound particularly traumatizing, but you don’t have to get beat up in
the playground to develop emotional scars that stay with you for the rest of your life – especially when the damage is
psychological, which is what female bullying is about. Think about it. You’re a little kid, and all you really want is to make
friends with the kids you go to school with everyday. Then you find out that not only do your schoolmates reject your
attempts at friendship – they also make fun of the most trivial things about you, like the way you speak. You start to
wonder if maybe there’s something seriously wrong with you because nobody can seem to like you for the way you are.
You start hating yourself and constantly doubting your abilities, and you find it difficult to open up to people and form
deep friendships with anyone.
The sad part is that guidance counselors, teachers, and even some parents don’t think much of bullying. They pass it off
as play, or maybe an early life lesson: the world can be a terrible place filled with people who will treat you with
undeserved cruelty. I do understand that kids have to grow up and learn that hard lesson someday, but I think anyone
under the age of ten is too young to deal with that much reality. At that age, it’s important for children to learn to accept
or at least respect people for exactly who they are instead of making fun of their differences. What kind of lesson will be
passed on to them if their elders shrug off bullying as something totally normal?
Notes from the Mother
No parent wants to see their child get hurt. But according to a recent US study, 77% of students are being bullied
mentally, verbally, or physically by their peers. Filipino children are equally exposed to bullying, and are even more at risk
since Filipino parents often mistake bullying as a painful, yet necessary, rite of passage. Children who are either bullied or
bullies themselvesâ€―are suffering from deep emotional scars. Aside from being withdrawn and depressed,
victimized children are more likely to drop out of school, take up vices, and get into fights.
Thank goodness, Lauren didn’t drop out of school. The effect on her was mediocre academic performance. I could see the
drastic drop starting third grade till I pulled her out of that school in Grade 6. Though intelligent, she was not motivated
enough to score high in her tests until she attended college. Only then did Lauren blossom, away from the ravages of
shallow high school classmates and their bullying antics.
During her elementary years, I was helpless against the bullying that victimized my sweet and gentle daughter in her
School. I talked to the school’s guidance counselor and all she could tell me is that “Lauren had to learn to live with these
bullies”. Moving schools was an option but where? Anti-bullying campaign in Philippine Schools was not yet in place in
the mid-nineties and even today.
Good news to parents. Be aware . There is now a Department of Education policy to protect children from bullying. A
Child Protection Committee (CPC) will be established in all private and public elementary and secondary schools. The
committee will be composed of school officials, teachers, parents, students, and a community representative.
(If you want to guest post in my blog, drop me a note with the suggested topic)

https://businessmirror.com.ph/procedures-in-handling-bullying-incidents-in-schools/

Procedures in handling bullying incidents

in schools
By
Toni Umali, Esq.
-
March 15, 2015

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 WE received an e-mail from a parent, asking the period
within which a school should act on a complaint for bullying. The parent said that almost a month has
passed since he filed his complaint on behalf of his child with the school principal, and the latter has
not given him any feedback since the filing of said complaint.

Is the school principal handling the bullying complaint properly? The answer should be, “No.” One
month is too long. The school principal is remiss in his duties, under our present law and rules on how
to deal with child-bullying cases.

In our last column, we discussed the various acts that may constitute bullying (and cyber bullying).
Allow us now to discuss the general guidelines and procedure in handling bullying incidents in schools.

We invite all our readers to check the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act
10627, otherwise known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, and DepEd Order 40, Series of 2012, also
known as the DepEd Child Protection Policy, for them to have an idea how a bullying complaint
should be handled.

Section 10 of the IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 provides among others the following:

Complaints of bullying and other acts under this IRR shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of
thedepartment or the private school, and shall not be brought for amicable settlement before the
barangay. Complaints for acts covered by other laws shall be referred to the appropriate authorities.

• The following are the immediate actions that may be taken in case a report for bullying is
received: The school personnel who was notified of a bullying incident shall intervene, by stopping
the bullying immediately; separating the students involved; removing the victim or, in appropriate
cases, the bully or offending student, from the site; ensuring the victim’s safety, by determining and
addressing the victim’s immediate safety needs and ensuring medical attention, if needed, and securing
a medical certificate, in cases of physical injury, or bringing the bully to the Guidance Office or the
designated school personnel.

• The following is the manner how a complaint for bullying may be reported: a) A victim or a
bystander, or a school personnel who receives information of a bullying incident or retaliation, or any
person, who witnesses or has personal knowledge of any incident of bullying, shall report the same to
the teacher, guidance coordinator or counselor or any person designated to handle bullying incidents;
b) The bullying incident shall be immediately reported to the school head. The designated school
personnel shall fill out the Intake Sheet as provided in DepEd Order 40, series of 2012. The school
head or the designated school personnel shall inform the parents or guardian of the victim and the
bully about the incident; c) If an incident of bullying involves students from more than one school, the
school that was first informed of the bullying or retaliation shall promptly notify the appropriate
administrator or school head of the other school, so that both schools may take appropriate action; and
reports of incidents of bullying initiated by persons who prefer anonymity shall be entertained, and the
person who reported the incident shall be afforded protection from possible retaliation; provided,
however, that no disciplinary administrative action shall be taken against an alleged bully or offending
student solely on the basis of an anonymous report and without any other evidence.

• The following is the manner a fact-finding investigation (and documentation on the bullying
complaint) may be conducted: The school administrator, principal or school head, or guidance
counselor/teacher, or school personnel or person designated to handle bullying incidents shall: a)
Separately interview in private the bully or offending student and the victim; b) Determine the levels of
threats and develop intervention strategies. If the bullying incident or retaliation or the situation
requires immediate attention or intervention, or the level of threat is high, appropriate action shall be
taken by the school within twenty-four hours (24) from the time of the incident; c) Inform the victim
and the parents or guardian of the steps to be taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or
retaliation; and d) Make appropriate recommendations to the Child Protection Committee (CPC) on
proper interventions, referrals and monitoring.

• The following are the disciplinary measures that may be imposed against the perpetrator of
bullying: a) The school head, considering the nature, gravity or severity, previous incidents of bullying
or retaliation and attendant circumstances, may impose reasonable disciplinary measures on the bully
or offending student that is proportionate to the act committed; b) Written reprimand, community
service, suspension, exclusion or expulsion, in accordance with existing rules and regulations of the
school or of the department for public schools, may be imposed, if the circumstances warrant the
imposition of such penalty, provided that the requirements of due process are complied with; c) In
addition to the disciplinary sanction, the bully shall also be required to undergo an intervention
program which shall be administered or supervised by the school’s CPC. The parents of the bully shall
be encouraged to join the intervention program.

• The following are minimum requirements of due process that shall be complied with in all
cases where a penalty is imposed on the bully or offending student: a) The student and the
parents or guardians shall be informed of the complaint in writing; b) The student shall be given the
opportunity to answer the complaint in writing, with the assistance of the parents or guardian; c) The
decision of the school head shall be in writing, stating the facts and the reasons for the decision; and
d) The decision of the school head may be appealed to the Division Office, as provided in existing
rules of the department.
 The same section also provides that the CPC shall determine the appropriate intervention programs
for the victim, the bully and bystanders. The school head or the CPC may refer the victims and the
bully to trained professionals outside the school, such as social workers, guidance counselors,
psychologists, or child-protection specialists, for further assessment and appropriate intervention
measures, as may be necessary. The school head or the designated school personnel shall notify the
Women and Children’s Protection Desk of the local Philippine National Police, if he believes that
appropriate criminal charges may be pursued against the bully or offending student.

This column should not be taken as a legal advice applicable to any particular case as each case is unique and should be
construed in light of the attending circumstances surrounding such particular case.

Lawyer Toni Umali is the current assistant secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the DepEd. He is licensed to
practice law not only in the Philippines, but also in the state of California and some federal courts in the United States
after passing the California State Bar Examinations in 2004. He has served as a legal consultant to several legislators
and local chief executives. As education assistant secretary, he was instrumental in the passage of the K to 12 law and the
issuance of its implementing rules and regulations. He is also the alternate spokesman of the DepEd.

http://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/09/12/republic-act-no-10627/

Republic Act No. 10627

September 12, 2013

H. No. 5496

Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines
Metro Manila
Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-third day of July, two thousand twelve.

[REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627]

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ADOPT POLICIES

TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS THE ACTS OF BULLYING IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013”.

SEC. 2. Acts of Bullying. – For purposes of this Act, “bullying” shall refer to any severe or repeated use by one
or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination
thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear
of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property; creating a hostile environment at school for the other
student; infringing on the rights of the other student at school; or materially and substantially disrupting the
education process or the orderly operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:

a. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking,
slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as
weapons;

b. Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;
c. Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress like directing foul
language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim’s looks,
clothes and body; and

d. Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means.

SEC. 3. Adoption of Anti-Bullying Policies. – All elementary and secondary schools are hereby directed to adopt
policies to address the existence of bullying in their respective institutions. Such policies shall be regularly
updated and, at a minimum, shall include provisions which:

(a) Prohibit the following acts:

(1) Bullying on school grounds; property immediately adjacent to school grounds; at school-sponsored or school-
related activities, functions or programs whether on or off school grounds; at school bus stops; on school buses
or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a school; or through the use of technology or an electronic device
owned, leased or used by a school;

(2) Bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related and through the use of technology
or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by a school if the act or acts in question create a hostile
environment at school for the victim, infringe on the rights of the victim at school, or materially and substantially
disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a school; and

(3) Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information during an investigation of
bullying, or who is a witness to or has reliable information about bullying;

(b) Identify the range of disciplinary administrative actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for bullying
or retaliation which shall be commensurate with the nature and gravity of the offense: Provided, That, in addition
to the disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, he/she shall also be required to
undergo a rehabilitation program which shall be administered by the institution concerned. The parents of the said
perpetrator shall be encouraged by the said institution to join the rehabilitation program;

(c) Establish clear procedures and strategies for:

(1) Reporting acts of bullying or retaliation;

(2) Responding promptly to and investigating reports of bullying or retaliation;

(3) Restoring a sense of safety for a victim and assessing the student’s need for protection;

(4) Protecting from bullying or retaliation of a person who reports acts of bullying, provides information during
an investigation of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable information about an act of bullying; and

(5) Providing counseling or referral to appropriate services for perpetrators, victims and appropriate family
members of said students;

(d) Enable students to anonymously report bullying or retaliation: Provided, however, That no disciplinary
administrative action shall be taken against a perpetrator solely on the basis of an anonymous report;

(e) Subject a student who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying to disciplinary administrative action;

(f) Educate students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school as well as the
mechanisms of such school for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation;

(g) Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school and
how parents and guardians can provide support and reinforce such policies at home; and

(h) Maintain a public record of relevant information and statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation in
school: Provided, That the names of students who committed acts of bullying or retaliation shall be strictly
confidential and only made available to the school administration, teachers directly responsible for the said
students and parents or guardians of students who are or have been victims of acts of bullying or retaliation.
All elementary and secondary schools shall provide students and their parents or guardians a copy of the anti-
bullying policies being adopted by the school. Such policies shall likewise be included in the school’s student
and/or employee handbook and shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls and website, if there is any.

The Department of Education (DepED) shall include in its training programs, courses or activities which shall
provide opportunities for school administrators, teachers and other employees to develop their knowledge and
skills in preventing or responding to any bullying act.

SEC. 4. Mechanisms to Address Bullying. – The school principal or any person who holds a comparable role shall
be responsible for the implementation and oversight of policies intended to address bullying.

Any member of the school administration, student, parent or volunteer shall immediately report any instance of
bullying or act of retaliation witnessed, or that has come to one’s attention, to the school principal or school officer
or person so designated by the principal to handle such issues, or both. Upon receipt of such a report, the school
principal or the designated school officer or person shall promptly investigate. If it is determined that bullying or
retaliation has occurred, the school principal or the designated school officer or person shall:

(a) Notify the law enforcement agency if the school principal or designee believes that criminal charges under the
Revised Penal Code may be pursued against the perpetrator;

(b) Take appropriate disciplinary administrative action;

(c) Notify the parents or guardians of the perpetrator; and

(d) Notify the parents or guardians of the victim regarding the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying
or retaliation.

If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students from more than one school, the school first informed of
the bullying or retaliation shall promptly notify the appropriate administrator of the other school so that both may
take appropriate action.

SEC. 5. Reporting Requirement. – All schools shall inform their respective schools division superintendents in
writing about the anti-bullying policies formulated within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. Such
notification shall likewise be an administrative requirement prior to the operation of new schools.

Beginning with the school year after the effectivity of this Act, and every first week of the start of the school year
thereafter, schools shall submit a report to their respective schools division superintendents all relevant
information and statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation. The schools division superintendents shall compile
these data and report the same to the Secretary of the DepED who shall likewise formally transmit a
comprehensive report to the Committee on Basic Education of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

SEC. 6. Sanction for Noncompliance. – In the rules and regulations to be implemented pursuant to this Act, the
Secretary of the DepED shall prescribe the appropriate administrative sanctions on school administrators who
shall fail to comply with the requirements under this Act. In addition thereto, erring private schools shall likewise
suffer the penalty of suspension of their permits to operate.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
DepED shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. – If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared to be unconstitutional or
invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force or
effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent
with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,
https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/index.html

https://www.academia.edu/11714073/Philippine_Issues_on_School_Classroom_Bullying
REASEARCH