Angara to schools: Craft own anti-bullying policy

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara reminded all schools, public or private, to craft their own anti-bullying policy in compliance with Republic Act 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

“We already have the Anti-Bullying Act and that law requires all schools to have their policy against bullying. So, we will be strict with the implementation of that. We will issue an order to remind the schools to adopt an anti-bullying policy,” Angara said.

He said each school’s anti-bullying policy should ideally include disciplinary action against the bullies and pyschosocial interventions for the victims.

“We respect the schools’ freedom to craft their own policy, but there should be sanctions [for the bullies] ... and they should establish their own Child Disciplinary Committee, which will handle bullying cases, there should be designated school officers who will handle these cases,” Angara said.

“Aside from bullying cases, there should really be a guidance counselor for each school who will handle cases of mental health, depression,” he added.

Angara made the statement as the Philippines was labeled the “bullying capital of the world” by the Program for International Student Assessment.

A recent Singapore study, Meta-Gallup Report, also showed that the Philippines’ Generation Z – born between 1997 and 2012 – are the world’s second loneliest and the most lonesome in Southeast Asia.

The report identified Gen Z as the first generation to have fully grown up in the world of smartphones and social media.