By Stephanie Sevillano
MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said intensified efforts and collaboration with other government agencies are underway to combat bullying.
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara led the largest executive committee (execom) meeting to discuss the issue of the “alarming” increase in bullying incidents in public schools in the country.
Angara said the government and other stakeholders must prioritize addressing the matter.
“To effectively combat bullying, we need to work not just inside the schools, but also in the households and communities where our learners come from. This is not just a school matter, it is a national priority that demands a whole-of-government, whole-of-society response,” Angara said in a statement.
To date, reported bullying cases surged to 2,500 in Academic Year 2024-2025 from 2,268 cases in 2023-2024, according to the DepEd-National Capital Region.
Some of DepEd’s partner agencies are the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Department of Justice (DOJ).
Among the measures include PNP’s intervention in bullying cases with legal violations, increased police visibility, and installation of security cameras in high-risk schools; establishment of the Parent Effectiveness Office under DSWD for investigation of cases; and educating families in addressing root causes.
The DILG and DOJ, meanwhile, raised the possible activation of the Barangay Juvenile Intervention Program, which will help prevent bullying through diversion and rehabilitation at the community level.
Besides collaboration with law enforcement agencies, academe experts from select universities including the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University will help DepEd improve its Values Education and Good Manners and Right Conduct curriculum; while the United Nations Children’s Fund and Save the Philippines Children offered to provide data and information in global programs.
To date, the DepEd is drafting a Default Policy on School Safety and Security.
This will include guidelines on “physical safety measures, clear procedures for incident reporting, sanctions for offenders, provision of psychological first aid, and financial assistance for victims of school-related incidents.” (PNA)
