The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) urged the full and immediate implementation of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) revised anti-bullying guidelines on Tuesday, following the signing of the updated implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.
EDCOM 2 commended DepEd for introducing significant changes aimed at enhancing school safety, including an expanded definition of bullying, a three-tiered system for case handling, and stricter sanctions for schools that fail to address reported incidents. “With this new IRR, we commend DepEd for taking concrete steps to make sure that all of our schools are safe spaces for all learners,” said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee, emphasizing the urgency of these reforms amid alarming reports of bullying.
A 2022 report from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) revealed that 43 percent of Filipino girls and 53 percent of boys experience bullying multiple times a month, which is more than twice the average among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
EDCOM 2 co-chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the need for schools to act decisively in enforcing the new rules to address what he termed a national crisis. “I strongly urge all schools to immediately enforce tougher anti-bullying measures. Hindi na tayo papayag na manatiling (We will no longer allow ourselves to remain the) bullying capital of the world,” Gatchalian stated in a news release.
He also called for schools to align the rollout of the IRR with the full implementation of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which includes school-based mental health programs, care centers, and the deployment of licensed counselors. “Walang batang dapat matakot pumasok sa paaralan. Dapat ito’y maging ligtas na kanlungan ng pangarap at pag-asa (No child should be afraid to go to school. It should be a safe haven for dreams and hope),” he added.
EDCOM 2 had previously recommended changes to the IRR based on national consultations and a 2024 study conducted with De La Salle University, which highlighted the long-term harm bullying inflicts on students’ trust in schools and their mental health.
The revised IRR mandates all public and private schools to adopt localized anti-bullying policies in accordance with DepEd standards. It also introduces a centralized reporting system and clearly defines the roles of teachers, school officials, and law enforcement based on the severity of the case. Non-compliance will result in stricter consequences, with public school staff facing administrative cases and private school personnel subject to sanctions by DepEd.
“Schools can no longer claim zero incidents as a sign of success. This new framework ensures that bullying is actively addressed — not hidden,” Yee remarked.
EDCOM 2, established through Republic Act 11899, is tasked with reviewing the Philippine education system and proposing reforms to address learning challenges nationwide.