The Anti-Bullying Act and your child's school: what schools must do
What RA 10627 requires of Philippine schools when a child is bullied, including online, and how parents can work with the school or escalate.
- RA 10627 covers public and private elementary and high schools, and explicitly includes cyberbullying.
- Schools must have an anti-bullying policy, a reporting process, and must notify parents.
- If the school doesn't act, you can escalate to the DepEd Schools Division Office.
The Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10627) requires schools to prevent and respond to bullying. Knowing what it says helps you work with your child's school, and push for action if needed.
What the law covers
- All elementary and secondary schools, public and private
- Bullying defined broadly, including physical, verbal, emotional and social bullying
- Cyberbullying: bullying done through technology or electronic means
- Bullying on school grounds, during school activities and, where it affects a child's school life, beyond
What schools must do
Under the law and its implementing rules, schools must:
- Adopt an anti-bullying policy and make it known to students and parents
- Set up procedures for reporting, investigating and responding to bullying
- Provide support for both the bullied child and the child who bullied, including counselling and intervention
- Notify parents of the children involved
- Protect the child who reports from retaliation
- Keep records and report bullying incidents to DepEd as required
Schools also follow DepEd's Child Protection Policy, which requires a Child Protection Committee in each school.
How to work with the school
Prepare
- Gather your evidence: screenshots, dates, names, links. See how to save evidence.
- Write a short summary: what happened, when, who, and how it's affecting your child.
- Read the school's anti-bullying policy if you can get a copy.
Meet or write
Contact the adviser, guidance office or principal. A written report, even by email, creates a record. Ask:
- Who is handling this?
- What steps will be taken, and by when?
- How will my child be protected from retaliation?
- When will you update me?
Stay focused on solutions
Ask for specific measures: changing seating, monitoring the class group chat, a meeting with the other family, counselling for your child.
If the school doesn't act
- Follow up in writing, referring to RA 10627 and the school's policy.
- Ask to meet the principal or the Child Protection Committee.
- For public schools, escalate to the DepEd Schools Division Office. For private schools, DepEd also has oversight on basic education compliance.
- If there's a crime (threats, sexual content, extortion), report to the CICC (1326), PNP or NBI regardless of the school's response.
If your child is accused of bullying
The law also gives your child a right to a fair process and to support. Cooperate, listen to the facts, and see when your child is the bully.
eGuard sets up screen time, bedtime and app rules on your child's phone and checks that each one is really on. Free for one child.