Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2321

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 10627 or the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013” is a
relatively new law which seeks to address hostile environment at school
that disrupts the education process which, in turn, is not conducive to the
total development of a child at school.

In view of its school-based approach, however, RA 10627 fails to
remedy non-school related acts of bullying in the wider community. The
laudable purposes of the law practically begins and ends on school
grounds. It is for this reason that an amendatory law is needed to give the
existing remedial legislation a greater reach of its coverage

It is interesting to note, parenthetically, that the former Vice
President expressed recently that he felt being “bullied” by the Senate and
other detractors, while not long after, Senator Grace Poe remarked
similarly that she was being “bullied” by a litigant and other critics who
are questioning her citizenship and residency. While probably spoken with
tongue-in-cheek, these offhand remarks manifest a widespread revulsion at
acts of bullying which are generally considered morally reprehensible.

It is not too early to make refinements to the anti-bullying law. By
its own terms, RA 10627 would not be dealing with the iconic “street-
bully”, but experience reveals that there have been many instances of
bullying committed in out-of-school contexts.

It is for the foregoing reasons that the in nediate approval of this bill
is respectfully recommended



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2321

Introduced by Honorable Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED
ONE HUNDRED SIX TWENTY-SEVEN (R. A. NO. 10627),
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013”

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the

“Expanded Anti-Bullying Act.”

SEC. 2. Definition of Bullying. — Section 2 of Republic Act
Numbered One Hundred Six Twenty-Seven (R. A. No. 10627), otherwise
known as the “Anti-Bullying Act of 2013”, is hereby amended to read as

follows

“SEC. 2. Acts of Bullying. — For purposes of this Act.
“bullying” shall refer to any severe or repeated use by one or
more CHILDREN [students] of'a written, verbal or electronic
expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination
thereof. directed at another CHILD [student] that has the
effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable
fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property:
creating a hostile environment at school OR IN. THE
COMMUNITY for the other CHILD [student]; infringing on
the rights of the other CHILD [student at school}: or



materially and substantially disrupting the GROWTH
S [education process or the orderly operation of a
as, but not limited to the following

“XXX
“XXX
“XXX
“XXX

“UNDER THIS ACT, “CHILD” OR “CHILDREN”
REFER TO PERSONS BELOW EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS
OF AGE OR THOSE OVER BUT ARE INCAPABLE OR
UNABLE TO FULLY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.”

SEC. 3. Expanded Coverage. — Notwithstanding the provisions of
R. A. No, 10627, the coverage, policies, mechanisms. reportorial
requirement and sanctions for non-compliance of the Anti-Bullying. Act

with appropriate changes, shall be applicable to non-school context in the

community

SEC. 4. Adoption of Anti-Bullving Policies. ~The Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is hereby directed to adopt
policies to address the existence of bullying in the barangays. to govern
non-school related instances of bullying. Such policies shall be regularly
updated and shall include, with appropriate changes. the provisions of

Section 3 of R. A. No. 10627.

SEC. 5. Mechanisms to Address Bullying. — Yo govern instances of

non-school related acts of bullying, the local social welfare (DSWD)


officer shall be responsible for the implementation and oversight of

policies provided herein

Any responsible member of the community

particularly barangay

officials, shall immediately report any instance of bullying or act of

retaliation witnessed, or that has come to one’s attention, to the local social
welfare officer or person so designated by him/her to handle such issues

or both. Upon receipt of such a report, the local social welfare officer or

designated officer shall promptly investigate. If it is determined that
bullying or retaliation has occurred, the local social welfare officer or
his/her designate shall

(a) Notify the law enforcement agency if the local social officer
or designate believes that criminal charges under the Revised Penal Code
may be pursued against the perpetrator:

(b) Notify the parents or guardians of both the perpetrator(s) and
the victim(s), and with respect to the latter, as to the action taken to prevent
any further acts of bullying or retaliation; and

(©) Conduct immediate counseling or referral (o appropriate

services for the perpetrators, victims and respective families

SEC. 6. Dissemination and reportorial requirements, - ‘The DSWD
shall disseminate to all barangays the anti-bullying policies formulated

within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act


SEC. 10. Repealing clause. - All acts, decrees. executive orders.
rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with

the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended

SEC. 11 Effectivity clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of

general circulation

Approved, (>
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