1,700 cases of bullying reported

By Helen Flores (The Philippine Star) | Updated July 28, 2014 - 12:00am
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MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) documented more than
1,700 cases of child abuse and bullying in school year 2013-2014 after Republic Act
10627, the Anti-Bullying Act, was passed last year.

However, the DepEd said 60 percent of these cases have already been resolved.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said violence takes many forms peer-to-peer
bullying, gender-based discrimination, physical assault, psychological punishment,
public ridicule, and sexual harassment.

Bullying and other forms of violence in schools should be viewed not just a school
problem but as societal problem as well, he said.

Luistro said RA 10627 paved the way for a heightened awareness against child
abuse.

It has helped advance the DepEds Child Protection Policy (CPP) through the creation
of Child Protection Committees in school divisions, he added.

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Luistro said RA 10627 requires public and private elementary and secondary schools
to adopt policies to deal with bullying to provide a safer environment for students.

At present, 93 school divisions in seven regions have their respective pool of

trainers, who are expected to roll out and to capacitate school personnel in handling
child abuse and bullying cases, he said.

Luistro said teachers humiliating students face administrative sanctions under the
CPP and RA 7610, the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination.

The DepEd continues to equip teachers and school principals with knowledge of the
governments child protection policies through a series of forums and consultations,
he added.

Luistro urged the public to report cases of bullying against students in public
schools to the Child Protection Committee so appropriate action could be taken.

The Anti-Bullying Law was formally signed by President Benigno Aquino III on September 12, 2013. As an educator,
Luistro considered the signing of the IRR of the Anti-Bullying Law as one DepEds biggest achievement last year.
The Philippines is one of the first nations in the world to even come up with a law on bullying including features of
cyber-bullying, Luistro said earlier. It is an imperfect law and the IRR will not be able to anticipate all the problems
and challenges but, I think it is a milestone, he said.
Based on the summary of child abuse, bullying and sexual abuse cases released by DepEd dated September 19 last
year, 80 percent or 1,165 out of 1,456 cases of child abuse that have been reported for the school year 2012-2013
are acts of bullying. The remaining 20 percent or 291 cases include other child abuse incidents including sexual
abuse.
DepEd said that schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) have the highest number of reported cases of abuse
with 489 where 443 are cases of bullying and 46 other child abuse cases; followed by Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR) with 228 where 216 are bullying cases and 12 are other child abuse cases and Region VI with 134
where 114 are cases of bullying and 20 other child abuse related cases. Meanwhile, Region X has the least number
of reported child abuse cases with only one case of bullying and four other child abuse related incidents.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/schools-to-submit-anti-bullying-policies-statistics-todeped/#5Vx6E3mjp3IiuuyD.99