Philippines Now Has Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 – Pres. Signs Law
President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into a law a bill requiring all elementary and secondary schools to adopt policies aimed at preventing acts of bullying in their institutions throughout the country.
The Chief Executive signed on September 12 Republic Act No. 10627 otherwise known as the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.”
The Act, which originated in the House of Representatives, was finally passed by the Lower House and the Senate on June 5, 2013.
The law defines acts of bullying in schools and direct the schools to adopt policies aimed at addressing bullying.
It empowers the Department of Education (DepED) to impose appropriate administrative sanctions on school administrators who fail to stop the bullying. In addition thereto, erring private schools shall likewise suffer the penalty of suspension of their permits to operate.
Bullying is defined as “any severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property.”
It also includes acts that create a hostile environment at school for the bully’s victim and which infringe on the rights of the victim.
Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, and inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available objects as weapons are prohibited.
The law prohibits cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means.
All elementary and high schools would be required to adopt anti-bullying policies and sanctions, which would apply to prohibited acts committed within their campuses, at school-sponsored or school-related activities, whether done on or off school grounds, school bus stops, school buses, or other properties owned, leased or used by the school.
The law prohibits bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related and through the use of technology or an electronic devise that is not owned, leased or used by a school if the act or acts in question create a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringe on the rights of the victim at school, or materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
The law prohibits the retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information during an investigation of bullying, or who is a witness to or has a reliable information about bullying.
In addition to the disciplinary sanctions imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, a bully would be required to undergo rehabilitation program administered by the school. The parents of the bully shall be encouraged by the institution to join the rehabilitation program.
Schools are required to maintain a public record of bullies and their offenses.
The law mandates the DepED to issue implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the effectivity of this Act.
The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in at least two national newspapers of general circulation.
SOURCE PIA