DepEd strengthens anti-bullying policy with revised IRR

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to curb bullying in schools, the Department of Education (DepEd) has revised the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to strengthen enforcement and ensure greater accountability across all basic education institutions nationwide.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara yesterday signed the Revised IRR of Republic Act 10627, which mandates all public and private basic education institutions, including
community learning centers and DepEd-supervised overseas schools, to adopt and implement a standard anti-bullying policy.

According to DepEd, the revised guidelines aim to bolster preventive measures, formalize school responsibilities and establish a clear chain of accountability to ensure every complaint is addressed promptly and fairly.

“A school is a place for learning, not for maltreatment. There should be no bullying in any corner of the school and society,” said Angara, who authored the law during his tenure as senator.

He stressed that bullying leads to absenteeism, poor academic performance and even school dropouts, adding that addressing such behavior is essential to improving educational outcomes.

Under the new framework, schools are required to implement school-wide prevention programs, early interventions and a streamlined process for resolving complaints and appeals. Roles and responsibilities of school heads, teachers, parents or parent-substitutes and learners are now clearly defined to ensure no case is overlooked.

“There should be a culture of concern and respect. For this to happen, we are giving clear authority and responsibility to the teachers, the parents and school heads,” Angara said.

The revised IRR also expands coverage by identifying precursor behaviors and patterns of intimidation, including actions that may not result in physical harm but cause emotional distress or social exclusion.

A key feature of the update is the designation of a Learner Formation Officer, who will act as the first responder to bullying complaints and coordinate necessary interventions. Schools must also incorporate anti-bullying procedures in their student handbooks and post them prominently within the campus.

DepEd will monitor the functionality of Child Protection Committees in schools and provide technical assistance to ensure all support systems are in place.

The updated policy will be published in the Official Gazette and disseminated to DepEd regional and division offices.