DepEd strengthens Anti-Bullying Act IRR; TDC calls for united action

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) is urging a “whole-of-society approach” to ensure the sustained implementation of the country’s anti-bullying policy.

"We call for a whole-of-society approach to ensure sustained implementation on the ground and a meaningful response that addresses the needs of both the bully and the bullied," TDC spokesperson Jim Lester Beleno said.

The call follows the signing of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, by Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara. The updated rules strengthen preventive measures, formalize school responsibilities, and establish a clear chain of accountability to ensure every complaint is addressed promptly and fairly.

With the stricter anti-bullying policy, schools now have greater clarity and authority to prevent, address, and resolve bullying cases.

"We welcome this policy from the DepEd under Secretary Sonny Angara as a timely and responsive action to a long-standing concern we have consistently raised," Beleno said.

The Philippines has been labeled as the “bullying capital” in various reports, with many incidents going viral on social media and drawing international attention.

"The TDC has long advocated for this policy reform, and we are encouraged to see it finally being addressed. However, real change requires more than a policy — it demands the concerted effort of all stakeholders, especially government agencies," Beleno stressed.

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

The updated IRR outlines school-wide prevention programs, early interventions, and a streamlined complaint and appeal process. It also clearly defines the roles of school heads, teachers, parents or parent-substitutes, and even learners, ensuring that no case is overlooked.