Senate ready to submit anti-bullying bill for plenary OK

MANILA, Philippines - Fifteen senators have signed a bill that recommends for plenary approval the act requiring elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies to prevent and address acts of bullying in their institutions.

The Senate committee on education, arts and culture chaired by Sen. Edgardo Angara has come out with the committee report on the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012 and the senator is expected to sponsor the measure on the floor.

Senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Antonio Trillanes IV are co-authors of the measure, while a counterpart measure was also filed before the House of Representatives filed, among others, by Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara.

The bill includes the need for schools to formulate policies that clearly defines the conduct of bullying, prohibit bullying while on school property, at school-sponsored activities and on school buses. The state of consequences for engaging in the prohibited conduct, which may vary depending on the age or grade of the student involved.

There is a provision that a school employee who witnesses such bullying or information about it, shall report incident to the principal.

In addition to the disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, the bill proposes that the perpetrator “shall also be required to undergo a rehabilitation program which shall be administered by the institution concerned.” The parents of the said perpetrator shall be encouraged by the said institution to join the rehabilitation program.

The proposed measure also has a provision that mandates the need to educate students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school as well as the mechanisms of such school for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation.