DepEd to Enforce Stronger Anti-Bullying Measures in Schools

The Department of Education (DepEd) is strengthening the enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 in response to a nationwide increase in reported bullying incidents, particularly in public schools.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), DepEd recorded over 2,500 bullying cases for School Year 2024–2025, compared to 2,268 cases during the previous academic year. The department has confirmed that both physical and online forms of bullying have been reported more frequently.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara acknowledged that while the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 has been in effect for more than a decade, many schools still do not comply with its core requirements. These include the creation of a Child Protection Committee (CPC) in each school to respond to reports of abuse, formulate anti-bullying policies, and coordinate with authorities when necessary.

“Despite the law being there for over a decade, not all schools are implementing it,” Angara said in an interview. “That’s why we’re really focusing now on making sure every public school has a committee in place to deal with this.”

DepEd data presented in a Senate hearing in April showed that only 966 schools out of more than 45,000 nationwide had functional CPCs as of early 2025.

As part of a broader response, DepEd has also coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to increase law enforcement visibility near schools identified as high risk. Police personnel may be assigned to monitor these areas during school hours. CCTV installations are also being implemented to strengthen safety measures in compliance with privacy laws and existing campus security policies.

In addition to school-level enforcement, DepEd is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to introduce the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) in selected communities. This program is intended to assist parents in improving parenting skills and understanding child development as part of a preventive approach to bullying.

DepEd is also revising the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act to update definitions and expand coverage to include emerging issues such as cyberbullying and group violence.

Furthermore, the department is implementing the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Program under Republic Act No. 11036. As part of this program, Mental Health and Well-Being Offices will be established in schools with high levels of reported psychological distress among students.

DepEd also plans to finalize a comprehensive School Safety and Security Policy. This will include procedures for responding to incidents, providing psychological support to students, and defining penalties for non-compliance.