DepEd Enhances Anti-Bullying Policies With Stricter Guidelines and Clearer Accountability

The Department of Education (DepEd) has strengthened its approach to combating bullying by issuing more rigorous rules that empower schools to prevent, manage, and resolve bullying cases with greater efficiency and transparency.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara formally signed the revised implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 10627, also known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, on Monday. This update amplifies preventive strategies, clearly defines school responsibilities, and establishes an explicit accountability framework that ensures timely and fair handling of all bullying complaints.

According to the new guidelines, all public and private basic education institutions—including community learning centers and overseas schools under DepEd’s jurisdiction—are now required to adopt and implement a standardized anti-bullying policy.

The revised IRR mandates comprehensive school-wide prevention initiatives, early intervention efforts, and an improved system for processing complaints and appeals. It explicitly outlines the duties of school administrators, teachers, parents and their substitutes, as well as learners themselves, to guarantee that no bullying incident goes unaddressed.

Secretary Angara emphasized that the enhanced measures extend beyond reacting to bullying incidents. They also offer detailed definitions of precursor behaviors, patterns of repeated intimidation, and situations that may not cause physical harm but inflict considerable emotional pain or social exclusion—issues that frequently remain unreported. This holistic approach is designed to create safer and more supportive learning environments nationwide.