Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has filed a resolution calling for a congressional inquiry on the status of the implementation of Republic Act 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, noting the alarming incidence of bullying in the country despite the existence of the law.
Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said the inquiry aims to primarily address the alarming incidence of bullying in the country’s schools to recommend policy and legislative interventions for its effective enforcement.
The senator has filed Senate Resolution No. 454 following a series of incidents related to bullying in schools, including a fatal stabbing involving two students from Culiat High School in Quezon City and the physical altercation between two Ateneo de Davao University students.
“In the midst of alarming incidents of bullying and violence in our schools, it is timely that we review the existing law to ensure that we can promote the safety and well-being of our students,” Gatchalian said.
“We need to stop bullying in our schools, especially because it causes damage to their studies and mental health," said Gatchalian.
The senator cited the results of the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment in 2018, which shows that among 15 year-old learners from 79 participating countries, Filipino learners are the most exposed to bullying.
Based on the study, at least 65 percent of them have experienced being bullied at least a few times a month.
The same study also showed that students who reported being threatened scored 56 points lower in Reading compared to those who had no or less frequent experiences.
As chair of the Senate basic education panel, Gatchalian pointed out that a comprehensive analysis and gap review of Republic Act No. 10627 is needed.
He also pressed the need to ensure that every school is effectively implementing procedures described in the anti-bullying law, including immediate responses, reporting, fact-finding and documentation, intervention, and disciplinary measures.
Gatchalian pointed out that under Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 55 s. 2013 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10627, a Child Protection Committee (CPCs) has been designated as the body that would handle bullying cases in public or private schools.
He said the forming of CPCs in every public and private school was first mandated by DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012 or DepEd’s Child Protection policy, in order to promote zero tolerance on abuse and violence against children.