Expanding R.A. No. 10627 (Anti-bullying Act of 2013)

Sentale my Office of the Senearp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 DEC - 3 P 3:46 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S.B. No. 1582 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The Philippines has been recognized as the bullying capital of the world based on the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which found that 76% of Filipino students were bullied within the past year. Not only were most Filipino students bullied, but 36% of Filipino students also belonged to the top ten percent of the "most bullied" students globally. The consequences of bullying are catastrophic, ranging from lower test scores, learning losses estimated at P10-20 billion annually, to tragic cases of suicide. This year, the Philippine National Police recorded 2,000 suicide cases from January to July 2025, some of the cases were linked to bullying and cyberbullying. Evidently, the Philippines is experiencing a bullying epidemic that the state must not ignore. Since the passage of the landmark Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, reported cases of bullying have risen from 1,158 cases in 2013 to 20,172 cases in 2018. This underscores the urgent need for reforms to tackle bullying. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) identified several implementation bottlenecks, including inadequate funding and the lack of localized anti-bullying policies, which hinder the full realization of the law. Another limitation of the Anti-Bullying Act is its focus on peer-to-peer bullying which fails to recognize the incidence of teacher-to-student bullying which can have negative effects on our learners. In 2022, a video of a teacher went viral for saying derogatory words to a 10 year-old student causing the child to fear going to school. The law also remains limited as it covers anti-bullying efforts in basic education, but not higher and technical-vocational institutions where bullying also occurs. This proposed measure seeks to address these gaps by providing a comprehensive and systemic approach to bullying across all levels of education: • Expands the definition of bullying to include school employee-to-student bullying; • Mandates the adoption of anti-bullying policies across higher education and technical-vocational institutions;

• Establishes a complaint mechanism within the DepEd, CHED, and TESDA for students, parents, or guardians to voice their grievances if educational institutions fail to fulfill the requirements of the law; • Strengthens data collection and monitoring across all education levels to deepen understanding of the issue and inform future policy reforms; • Ensures that there are appropriations to support anti-bullying initiatives; In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bareque Senator

Senate Office of the er.rctary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session ) 25 DEC -3 P3:46 SENATE RECEIVED BY S.B. No. 1582 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 1 Section. 1. The title of Republic Act No. 10627 is hereby amended to read as follows: "AN ACT REQUIRING ALL [ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY] EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO ADOPT POLICIES TO PREVENT AND ADDRESS THE ACTS OF BULLYING [IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS]"

Sec. 2. A new section 2 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below it

renumbered accordingly: "SEC. 2. COVERAGE. - THIS ACT SHALL APPLY TO STUDENTS IN BASIC EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, AND TECHNICAL- VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WHETHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE. RELEVANT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHALL ENSURE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT. THIS ACT SHALL COMPLEMENT REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11036 (MENTAL HEALTH ACT), REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11313 (SAFE SPACES ACT), AND APPLICABLE CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES."

Sec. 3. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" is

hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 2. Acts of Bullying. - For purposes of this Act, "bullying" shall refer to any [severe or repeated] use by A STUDENT OR SCHOOL EMPLOYEE [one of more students] of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed TOWARD A [at another] student that A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD FORESEE AS LIKELY TO CAUSE [has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of] physical or

emotional harm or damage to his property; [creating] CREATION OF a hostile environment at school for the other student; [infringing] INFRINGEMENT [on the rights of the other student at school] OF RIGHTS; or MATERIAL DISRUPTION OF SCHOOL OPERATIONS. [materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:] ACTIONS OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES SHALL BE CONSIDERED BULLYING ONLY WHEN THEY ARE COMMITTED OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE REASONABLE 9 PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES. LEGITIMATE AND DOCUMENTED ACADEMIC OR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS UNDERTAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCHOOL POLICIES SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS BULLYING. 12 ACTS OF BULLYING INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as weapons; b. Any act that causes damage to a victim's psyche and/or emotional well- being, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ACTS OF INTIMIDATION; c. Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress [like directing foul language or profanity at the target, name- calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim's looks, clothes and body; and d. Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means; AND E. ANY ACT THAT EXCLUDES A PERSON ON THE BASIS OF PERCEIVED OR ACTUAL CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH INCLUDE AGE, RELIGIOUS BELIEF, CULTURE, ETHNIC ORIGIN, POLITICAL INCLINATION, SOCIAL CLASS, SEX, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY, AND OTHER STATUS. PEER CONFLICTS, DISAGREEMENTS, OR ISOLATED INCIDENTS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE AN IMBALANCE OF POWER, INTENT TO HARM, OR REASONABLY FORESEEABLE HARM SHALL NOT BE CLASSIFIED AS BULLYING, BUT SHALL BE ADDRESSED THROUGH APPROPRIATE CONFLICT-RESOLUTION MECHANISMS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, 'SCHOOL EMPLOYEE' INCLUDES BOTH TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL OF A SCHOOL."

Sec. 4. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" is

hereby amended to read as follows: "Adoption of Anti-Bullying Policies. - All [elementary and secondary] schools, INCLUDING BASIC EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, are hereby directed to adopt policies to address the existence of bullying in their respective institutions. Such policies shall be regularly updated and, at a minimum, shall include provisions which: (a) xxx (b) Identify the range of disciplinary administrative actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for bullying or retaliation which shall be commensurate with the nature and gravity of the offense AND CONSISTENT WITH DUE PROCESS, INCLUDING NOTICE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD, AND THE RIGHT TO APPEAL: Provided, That, in addition to the disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, he/she shall also be required to undergo [a] AN AGE-APPROPRIATE rehabilitation program FOR MINOR STUDENT-PERPETRATORS which shall be administered by the institution concerned. The parents of the said perpetrator shall be encouraged by the said institution to join the rehabilitation program]; (c) xxx (d) Enable students to anonymously report bullying or retaliation: Provided, however, That no disciplinary administrative action shall be taken against a perpetrator solely on the basis of an anonymous report. PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT ANY ANONYMOUS REPORT RECEIVED SHALL PROMPT THE SCHOOL TO ONLY INITIATE A PRELIMINARY SAFETY ASSESSMENT; (e) xxx (f) xxx (9) XXX (h) xxx (i) A CLEAR DEFINITION OF BULLYING CONSISTENT WITH THE ACT

All elementary and secondary schools shall provide students and their parents or guardians a copy of the anti-bullying policies being adopted by the school. FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, STUDENTS SHALL BE PROVIDED THE SAME. Such policies shall likewise be included in the school's student and/or employee handbook and shall 6 be conspicuously posted on the school walls and website, if there is any. 7 The Department of Education (DepED), TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (TESDA), AND THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) shall include in its training programs, courses or activities which shall provide opportunities for school administrators, teachers and other [employees] PERSONNEL to develop their knowledge and skills in preventing or responding to any bullying act."

Sec. 5. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" is hereby

amended to read as follows: "xxx (c) IF THE PERPETRATOR IS A STUDENT AND A MINOR, Notify the parents or guardians of the perpetrator (d) IF THE VICTIM IS A STUDENT AND A MINOR, notify the parents or guardians of the victim regarding the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation. XXX SCHOOLS SHALL ENSURE DUE PROCESS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND TIMELY INVESTIGATION IN ALL BULLYING CASES."

Sec. 6. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" is hereby

amended to read as follows: "Reporting Requirement. - All BASIC EDUCATION schools shall inform their respective schools division superintendents, HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS SHALL INFORM THEIR RESPECTIVE CHED REGIONAL OFFICES, AND TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHALL INFORM THEIR RESPECTIVE TESDA PROVINCIAL OFFICES in writing about the anti-bullying policies formulated within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. Such notification shall likewise be an administrative requirement prior to the operation of new schools. Beginning with the school year after the effectivity of this Act, and every first week of the start of the school year thereafter, schools shall submit a report to their respective

1 schools division superintendents, CHED REGIONAL OFFICES, AND TESDA 2 PROVINCIAL OFFICES all relevant information, INCLUDING ACTIONS TAKEN, 3 IMPLEMENTATION OF REHABILITATION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, and statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation. The schools division superintendents, 5 CHED REGIONAL OFFICES, AND TESDA PROVINCIAL OFFICES shall compile these data and report the same to the Secretary of the DepED, CHAIRPERSON OF 7 THE CHED, AND DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TESDA who shall likewise formally transmit a comprehensive report to the APPROPRIATE Committees [on Basic Education] of both the House of Representatives and the Senate."

Sec. 7. A new section 6 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below it

11 renumbered accordingly: "COMPLAINT MECHANISMS. - DEPED, CHED, AND TESDA SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARDIZED AND CLEARLY DEFINED COMPLAINT MECHANISMS WITH TIMELINES, CONFIDENTIALITY SAFEGUARDS, AND APPEAL PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, OR GUARDIANS IN CASES OF SCHOOL NONCOMPLIANCE. INFORMATION ON THESE MECHANISMS SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE." 18 Sec. 8. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 10627 or the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" is 19 hereby amended to read as follows: "Sanction for Noncompliance AND VIOLATIONS. - In the rules and regulations to be implemented pursuant to this Act, the Secretary of the DepED, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CHED, AND THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TESDA shall prescribe the appropriate administrative sanctions on schools, SCHOOL administrators AND PERSONNEL, who shall fail to comply with OR WHO VIOLATE the requirements under this Act. SANCTIONS SHALL FOLLOW A GRADUATED SYSTEM BASED ON GRAVITY, FREQUENCY, AND IMPACT OF THE VIOLATION, CONSISTENT WITH CIVIL SERVICE AND LABOR REGULATIONS. In addition thereto, erring private schools [shall likewise] MAY ALSO suffer the penalty of suspension of their permits to operate."

Sec. 9. A new section 7 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below it

renumbered accordingly: "OTHER OFFENSES. - THIS ACT SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE FILING OF OTHER CRIMINAL, CIVIL, OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS.

Sec. 10. A new section 8 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below it

renumbered accordingly: "APPROPRIATIONS. - THE AMOUNTS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE CURRENT

APPROPRIATIONS OF DEPED, CHED, AND TESDA. THEREAFTER, FUNDING SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT"

Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — DepED, CHED, and TESDA shall

promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety (90) days from effectivity.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder not affected shall continue in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and

regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 13 repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or 25 in any newspaper of the general circulation. Approved,