BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday convened the largest Executive Committee (Execom) meeting of the Department of Education (DepEd) to date, bringing together key government agencies, civil society organizations, and academic experts to deliver a coordinated response to the alarming rise of bullying incidents in schools.

The meeting was called following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who earlier expressed deep concern over the surge in reported bullying cases nationwide. Based on data presented during the meeting, the DepEd National Capital Region recorded 2,500 cases of bullying in School Year 2024–2025, up from 2,268 in the previous year.

“To effectively combat bullying, we need to work not just inside the schools, but also in the households and communities where our learners come from. This is not just a school matter, it is a national priority that demands a whole-of-government, whole-of-society response,” Secretary Angara said.

Law Enforcement and Community Programs

Among the immediate measures agreed upon, the Philippine National Police (PNP) committed to intervene in bullying cases involving legal violations. Installation of CCTVs and increased police visibility will also be enforced outside large urban and high-risk schools, with strict adherence to DepEd’s policy on data privacy and zones of peace. 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also committed to investigate reported cases through its field offices and to establish a Parent Effectiveness Office. The office aims to educate families and address root causes such as domestic problems that may influence learner behavior.

Beyond school grounds, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) proposed the activation of the Comprehensive Barangay Juvenile Intervention Program (CBJIP). The CBJIP aims to prevent bullying at the community level through diversion and rehabilitation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) supported the proposal, noting that early interventions can help prevent young learners from entering the juvenile delinquency system.

Curriculum Enhancements

Meanwhile, experts from the University of the Philippines College of Education and Ateneo de Manila University will assist DepEd in enhancing its Values Education and Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC) curriculum. The proposed enhancements will include integrated socio-emotional learning, emotional regulation, and conflict management. Representatives from UNICEF and Save the Children Philippines also participated, offering data and globally vetted programs to support the effort.

Additional reforms under consideration include the integration of anti-bullying policies into the Values Education and GMRC curricula, and the enrichment of the Drop-Out Reduction Program (DORP) to better address the needs of Children-at-Risk and Children in Conflict with the Law.

School Safety Policy

DepEd is also drafting a Default Policy on School Safety and Security. The baseline policy will cover physical safety measures, clear procedures for incident reporting, sanctions for offenders, provision of psychological first aid, and financial assistance for victims of school-related incidents. In the long term, DepEd will develop a comprehensive School Operations Manual that consolidates all safety and discipline-related policies.

Stronger Partnerships Across Sectors

To strengthen implementation, DepEd will pursue partnerships with various government agencies and stakeholders. These include the deployment of barangay tanods and police officers through DILG and PNP; the possible assignment of TUPAD beneficiaries as school watchmen through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and assistance from the Department of Health and medical associations in providing counseling and psychological first aid.

DepEd will also tap parents, alumni volunteers, and student leaders to assist in monitoring and implementing school safety initiatives. Coordination with local government units will be strengthened through the activation of local peace and order councils and regional and division-level helplines, in collaboration with the National Center for Mental Health.

“We must act quickly and decisively,” Angara said. “The safety of our learners cannot wait for perfect conditions. What we need now is urgency, unity, and sustained action.”

The inter-agency meeting concluded with a shared commitment to roll out immediate interventions while laying the groundwork for long-term, transformational policies that will ensure every school is a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for Filipino learners.

*All Photos from DepEd