Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1352 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, is 
a landmark piece of legislation that mandates elementary and secondary schools to 
establish policies and mechanisms to prevent and address incidents of bullying. It 
aims to foster a safe and conducive learning environment for students and 
emphasizes the importance of educational awareness for both students and parents 
on this critical issue. However, despite the enactment of this significant law, 
challenges in its implementation persist. 
Data from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 
conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 
(OECD), reveal concerning figures. According to the report, 8% of Filipino students 
reported not feeling safe in their classrooms, while 19% felt unsafe in other areas of 
the school premises.1 These percentages are significantly higher than the OECD 
international averages of 7% for classroom safety and 10% for other school areas.2 
While these figures may partly reflect the physical environment and ambiance of 
schools, the OECD highlights that perceptions of safety are also influenced by 
exposure to risks such as threats and fights on school grounds.  
2 Ibid.  
1 Francesco Avvisati and Rodolfo Ilizaliturri, "PISA 2022 Results (Volume I and II) - Country Notes: Philippines," 
OECD, December 5, 2023, 
https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2022-results-volume-i-and-ii-country-notes_ed6fbcc5-en/philippines_a
0882a2d-en.html. 
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The percentage of Filipino students who reported being bullied at least a few 
times a month in their school is also significantly higher than the OECD 
international average. In the Philippines, 43% of girls and 53% of boys reported 
being victims of bullying acts, compared to the OECD international averages of 20% 
for girls and 21% for boys.3 While these figures have improved since the 2018 PISA 
assessment, they remain far below the desired standards.  
In addition, a study from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies 
(PIDS) shows that disadvantaged students, specifically those who have experienced 
hunger and those who have repeated grade levels, have higher risk of bullying in 
school.4 This finding is especially pertinent to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino 
Program (4Ps) Students, whose vulnerability aligns with these risk factors. In fact, 
during the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s National Children’s 
Congress in November 2024, children of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program 
(4Ps) expressed concerns about bullying. Among the policy suggestions that came 
up in the delegates’ workshops is increasing awareness among students by holding 
orientations on anti-bullying policies on the first day of the academic year. Ensuring 
that students are promptly informed about these critical policies and, at the onset, 
equipping them with strategies to prevent bullying incidents. 
Studies consistently support this notion, highlighting that raising awareness 
about bullying among students and other stakeholders is a crucial step. One study 
on bullying awareness and incidence in a Philippine public high school, found that 
school-based 
anti-bullying 
programs 
encourage 
active 
participation 
from 
administrators, teachers, and students, ultimately reducing bullying incidents.5 As 
further emphasized in the 2022 PISA report, creating a safe learning environment 
where students feel secure and are free from bullying contributes to a stronger sense 
of belonging in school, greater confidence in self-directed learning, and higher 
overall life satisfaction.6  
This only highlights that strict implementation and enforcement of 
anti-bullying policies significantly contribute to fostering an environment free from 
bullying and shaping students' attitudes and behaviors toward this issue. 
6 Avvisati and Ilizaliturri, "PISA 2022 Results (Volume I and II)." 
5 Janice L. Gonzales and Dennis V. Madrigal, "Awareness and Incidence of Bullying among Public High School 
Students in Antique," Philippine Social Science Journal 3, no. 2 (November 12, 2020): 55-56, 
https://philssj.org/index.php/main/article/view/240. 
4 Michael R.M. Abrigo, Edmar E. Lingatong, and Charlotte Marjorie L. Relos, School Bullying Contributes to 
Lower PISA Achievement among Filipino Students: Who Gets Bullied? Why Does It Matter? PIDS Discussion 
Paper Series No. 2024-45 (Quezon City: Philippine Institute for Development Studies, December 2024), 
https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/document/pidsdps2445.pdf. 
3 Ibid. 
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Therefore, this proposed bill seeks to amend the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to 
reflect a more proactive approach in its implementation by mandating schools to 
conduct student orientations on anti-bullying policies on the first day of each 
academic year for students. Additionally, it shall require schools to hold mandatory 
orientations or seminars for parents on anti-bullying policies during the first 
Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting of the year. Furthermore, it aims to 
strengthen information dissemination efforts to ensure that all stakeholders are 
well-informed about anti-bullying policies and measures. 
In light of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought.  
JC M. ABALOS 
Representative 
4Ps Partylist 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 1352 
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative 
JC M. ABALOS 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE PREVENTION OF BULLYING IN ELEMENTARY AND 
SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY MANDATING FIRST-DAY ORIENTATIONS ON 
ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 
NO. 10627, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013” 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10627 shall be amended to read as 
follows:  
“SECTION 3. Adoption of Anti-Bullying Policies. – All elementary 
and secondary schools are hereby directed to adopt policies to address the 
existence of bullying in their respective institutions. Such policies shall be 
regularly updated and, at a minimum, shall include provisions which: 
XXX 
f) Educate students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying
policies of the school as well as the mechanisms of such school for the
anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation DURING THE
FIRST-DAY ORIENTATION OF EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR, AND
ENSURE 
INFORMATION 
DISSEMINATION 
AND
REINFORCEMENT OF SUCH POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE
ACADEMIC YEAR;
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(g) Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the 
anti-bullying policies of the school and how parents and guardians can 
provide support and reinforce such policies at home DURING THE 
FIRST PARENTS-TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, AND 
ENSURE 
INFORMATION 
DISSEMINATION 
AND 
REINFORCEMENT OF SUCH POLICIES THROUGHOUT THE 
ACADEMIC YEAR; and 
h) XXX.” 
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved, 
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