The Quezon City government, in partnership with the Department of Education – Schools Division Office of Quezon City (DepEd QC), has launched a citywide campaign against bullying and discrimination in both public and private schools on Monday, August 11.

“Every student deserves to learn in an environment where they are respected, heard, and protected. In QC, we believe that schools should be places of growth, not fear. With this new campaign, we reaffirm our commitment to stand by our children and ensure their voices are never silenced by bullying,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

The initiative, themed “B.A.D. (Bullying at Diskriminasyon) Yan!”, aims to raise awareness, encourage reporting, and strengthen interventions to make schools safer and more inclusive.

The campaign covers physical, verbal, and cyberbullying, as well as all forms of discrimination based on gender, religion, socioeconomic status, appearance, or disability.

It also promotes a “whole-of-city” approach, engaging school officials, parents, youth leaders, barangay authorities, and community organizations.

During the recent two-day Education Summit, students, educators, and local officials recited the Quezon City Pledge Against Bullying and Discrimination, committing to respect others’ rights and help create safe learning environments.

DepEd QC Superintendent Carleen Sedilla said the division will issue a memorandum outlining specific activities to support the program, urging education stakeholders to Speak Up (Magsalita), Get Involved (Makialam), and Take Part (Makiisa).

“Schools are the second home of our students, and it is our duty to keep them safe,” Sedilla said.

Incidents of bullying and discrimination may be reported directly to school authorities or through Helpline 122, the city’s hotline for public concerns.