DepEd begins anti-bullying, digital safety drive

The Department of Education (DepEd) launched a weeklong national school safety campaign Monday, calling on parents, educators, and local communities to unite against bullying, campus violence, and online child exploitation.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the official launch of National School Safety Week at Cainta Elementary School, where 200 parents participated in training workshops focusing on digital safety, positive discipline, and anti-bullying response strategies.

“Starting today, the reason we took a pledge for school safety is so that we can closely monitor our children,” Angara said. “We will make it a point to know who they are talking to and who they are spending time with, whether online or in person.”

The opening ceremony featured the signing and recitation of a community pledge committing education administrators, local government officials, law enforcement agencies, and student leaders to safeguard children from discrimination, physical violence and abuse.

“We deal with it as a community. We are not powerless. There is much we can do,” Angara added, stressing that effective campus security requires active collaboration between domestic households and public institutions.

The campaign integrates DepEd’s Kaagapay Program, an initiative that engages parents and primary caregivers in structured discussions regarding child protection laws and family-led learning safety.

Workshop modules at Cainta Elementary School focused on emotional support, positive behavior guidance, bullying prevention, and formal reporting mechanisms established under the national Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment.

Parents also received instruction on monitoring online risks and utilizing digital parental controls.