The Department of Education (DepEd) will now have "sharper teeth" in implementing its anti-bullying policy, empowering schools to prevent, address, and resolve bullying incidents with greater clarity and accountability.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Monday signed the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10627 (Anti-Bullying Act of 2013), which strengthen preventive measures, formalize school responsibilities, and establish a clear chain of accountability to ensure every complaint is acted on swiftly and fairly.

Under the revised guidelines, all public and private basic education schools, including community learning centers and schools overseas under DepEd’s supervision, are now required to adopt and operationalize a standard anti-bullying policy.

The updated IRR includes school-wide prevention programs, early interventions, and a streamlined system for resolving complaints and appeals. The roles of school heads, teachers, parents and parent-substitutes, and even learners are now clearly laid out, ensuring that no case falls through the cracks.

Angara stressed that the new measures go beyond reacting to incidents, as it provides definitions for precursor behaviors, repeated patterns of intimidation, and cases that may not result in physical harm but lead to significant emotional distress or social exclusion, which often go unreported.

A key feature of the new framework is the introduction of the Learner Formation Officer, a designated staff member who will serve as the first responder for bullying complaints, ensuring that incidents are immediately addressed and referred to appropriate personnel when needed. Schools are also mandated to include anti-bullying procedures in their handbooks and visibly post them within school premises.

Citing evidence that bullying contributes to absenteeism, poor performance, and even school dropouts, Angara emphasized that curbing such behavior is a prerequisite for improving academic outcomes.

DepEd has also committed to tracking the functionality of Child Protection Committees in schools and providing technical assistance to ensure that all support systems are in place.

The updated anti-bullying policy will be published in the Official Gazette and widely disseminated across the agency’s regional and division offices in the coming days.