Preventive measures vs bullying pushed

A PHILIPPINE Senator called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to effectively enforce preventive measures against bullying in schools, following recent incidents of violence in public schools.

“We cannot allow violence to become normal in our schools, which is why it is important to ensure that we can curb it for the safety and well-being of our students,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement on Tuesday.

Mr. Gatchalian cited a recent bullying incident in a public school in Quezon City and a stabbing incident in Parañaque City resulting in the death of a 14-year-old student.

In a senate committee hearing, DepEd Assistant Secretary Dexter A. Galban said there is a challenge in monitoring bullying cases across the country.

“It might be nearly impossible for a single teacher in a classroom to know exactly what is happening…there needs to be higher implementation and efforts towards coordinated efforts that go beyond classroom management,” Mr. Galban added.

He said that DepEd needs funding for more discipline officers stationed per school to address rampant cases of bullying in educational institutions.

“Apart from our care centers…there also needs to be someone focused on the discipline aspect and this needs to be at the school level. Currently they are operational either at the regional level or the school division level due to limited capacity,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Gatchalian said that DepEd should also strengthen their good manners and right conduct program (GMRC).

“We believe that GMRC will help address bullying y inculcating good manners and right conduct at the beginning of the schooling of the child,” he added.

There were 658 cases of campus violence committed by students logged from November 2022 to April 2025, according to DepEd data.

Among the incidents were verbal, physical, cyberbullying, and undefined bullying. Other cases were children in conflict with the law, children at risk, and neglected children. — Adrian H. Halili