TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
Id JULIO P6--22
SENATE 
S. No. 441
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 2019 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) report provides 
that about 65% of Filipino students reported experiencing some form of bullying at least 
a few times each month, while 40% said they were bullied more frequently, around once 
a week or more. In the 2022 PISA, the figures remained alarming, with one (1) in every 
three (3) Filipino students experiencing bullying in school. For some, acts of bullying may 
seem like playful mischief among children, but under the law, it is defined as any severe 
or repeated use by one or more persons of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, a 
physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another person, that 
causes or places the victim in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm, damage to 
their property, or creates a hostile environment.
The 1987 Constitution affirms the State's commitment to uphold the dignity and 
rights of every individual, especially children and the youth. Article II, Section 11, provides 
that "The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for 
human rights." Further, Article II, Section 13 emphasizes that "The State recognizes the 
vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being." Aligned with these provisions. Article 
XV, Section 3(2) declares that "The right of children to assistance, including proper care


and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, 
and other conditions prejudicial to their development."
The UNICEF states that early childhood, encompassing the years from birth to age 
eight (8), is a crucial phase for cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. At 
this age, a child's brain is quickly developing and can easily be shaped by their 
surroundings and experiences. Taking advantage of these prime years by providing 
opportunities for children to understand and grasp the effects and consequences of 
bullying can help make schools safer spaces for learning and for building meaningful 
connections among students.
Accordingly, this bill aims to integrate Anti-Bullying education into the school 
curriculum to reduce the incidence of bullying in schools by shaping young minds early, 
and to strengthen existing laws by enhancing prevention, monitoring, and the 
establishment of clear and anonymous reporting channels free from the threat of 
retaliation. The purpose of this bill is to raise awareness on how students can seek help 
when they feel defenseless and to protect the youth from the harmful effects of bullying.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
2b JULIO P6:22
SENATE
S. No. 441
W\\-
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
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AN ACT
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10627, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE ANTI-BULLYING ACT OF 2013 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
Section. 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti- 
Bullying Act of 2013" is hereby amended 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 students of a written, verbal or 
electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, 
directed at another 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 for the other student; 
infringing on the rights of the other student at school; or materially and 
substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a 
school; such as, but not limited to, the following:
a. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like 
punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, 
inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting and the use of available 
objects as weapons;
b. Any act that causes damage to a victim's psyche and/or emotional 
well-being;


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c. Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue 
emotional distress like directing foul language or profanity at the target, 
name-calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim's looks, 
clothes and body; [and]
[d. Cyber bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology
er-any electronic moons.]
D. ANY DELIBERATE, REPETITIVE, AND AGGRESSIVE SOCIAL 
BEHAVIOR INTENDED TO HURT OR BELITTLE ANOTHER 
INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP; AND
E. ANY ACT THAT HUMILIATES OR EXCLUDES A PERSON ON 
THE BASIS OF PERCEIVED OR ACTUAL SEXUAL ORIENTATION 
AND GENDER IDENTITY."
Sec. 2. A new Section 3 is hereby inserted after Section 2 of Republic Act No. 
10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the subsequent sections 
shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 3. CYBER-BULLYING. - CYBER-BULLYING IS ANY CONDUCT 
DEFINED IN SECTION 2 OF THIS ACT WHICH ARE MADE THROUGH 
THE USE OF OTHER FORMS OF TECHNOLOGY OR ELECTRONIC 
DEVICES SUCH AS, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TEXTING, INSTANT 
MESSAGING, CHATTING, INTERNET, SOCIAL NETWORKING 
WEBSITES, ONLINE GAMES, OR OTHER PLATFORMS OR FORMATS. 
FOR PURPOSES OF THIS ACT, THE PHRASE "ACTS OF BULLYING" 
SHALL INCLUDE THE ACTS ENUMERATED UNDER SECTION 2 AND 
CYBER-BULLYING AS DEFINED UNDER THIS SECTION."
Sec. 3. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying 
Act of 2013" is hereby amended as follows:
"SEC. [3] 4. Adoption of Anti-BuHying Policies. - All elementary and 
secondary schools are hereby directed to adopt fx>licies to address the 
existence of bullying in their respective institutions.


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(b) Identify the range of disciplinary administrative actions that may be taken 
against a perpetrator for bullying or retaliation which shall be commensurate 
with the nature and gravity of the offense: Provided, THE DEPARTMENT 
OF EDUCATION (DEPED) SHALL ISSUE AND PERIODICALLY UPDATE 
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDELINES ON THE IMPOSITION OF 
APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
CORRESPONDING REHABILITATION AND INTERVENTION 
PROGRAMS FOR PERPETRATORS OF BULLYING OR RETALIATION. 
PROVIDED FURTHERf That[7] in addition to the disciplinary sanctions 
imposed upon a perpetrator of bullying or retaliation, he/she shall also be 
required to undergo a rehabilitation AND INTERVENTION programs which 
shall be administered by the institution concerned. The parents of the said 
perpetrator shall be encouraged by the said institution to join the 
rehabilitation AND INTERVENTION programs;
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(d) Enable students to anonymously report bullying or retaliation: Provided, 
however, That no disciplinary administrative action shall be taken against a 
perpetrator solely on the basis of an anonymous report. PROVIDED 
FURTHER, THAT ANY ANONYMOUS REPORT RECEIVED SHALL 
PROMPT THE SCHOOL TO INITIATE APPROPRIATE PREVENTIVE 
MEASURES AND MONITORING TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL­
BEING OF ALL STUDENTS;
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TO ENSURE THAT THESE PRINCIPLES ARE EMBEDDED DURING THE 
FORMATIVE YEARS OF A STUDENT, ALL ELEMENTARY AND 
SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHALL INTEGRATE EFFECTIVE AND AGE- 
APPROPRIATE ANTI-BULLYING EDUCATION INTO THE COVERAGE 
OF GOOD MANNERS AND RIGHT CONDUCT (GMRC) AND VALUES 
EDUCATION UNDER THE KTO 12 BASIC EDUCATION CURRICULUM.
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All elementary and secondary schools shall provide students and their parents 
or guardians a copy of the anti-bullying policies [bemf], WHICH SHALL BE 
CONSISTENT WITH AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ANTI­
BULLYING EDUCATION adopted by the school IN ITS CURRICULUM.
Such policies shall likewise be included in the school's student and/or 
employee handbook and shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls 
and website, if there is any.
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The [Department of Education (DopED)] DEPED shall include in its training 
programs, courses or activities which shall provide opportunities for school 
administrators, teachers and other employees to develop their knowledge 
and skills in preventing or responding to any bullying act."
Sec. 4. Section 4 of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying 
Act of 2013" is hereby amended as follows:
"SEC. [4] 5. Mechanisms to Address Bullying. - The school principal or any 
person who holds a comparable role shall be responsible for the 
implementation and oversight of policies intended to address bullying.
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If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students from more than one 
school, the school first informed of the bullying or retaliation shall promptly


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notify the appropriate administrator of the other school so that both may take 
appropriate action.
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IN ADDITION TO THESE SCHOOL-BASED REPORTING
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MECHANISMS, THE DEPED SHALL LIKEWISE MAINTAIN AND
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PROMOTE A SAFE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND ACCESSIBLE REPORTING
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CHANNEL FOR ANY PERSON WHO IS A VICTIM OF BULLYING OR
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RETALIATION, A WITNESS TO, OR HAS RELIABLE INFORMATION
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ABOUT BULLYING OR RETALIATION BUT IS UNWILLING OR
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UNABLE TO REPORT THROUGH SCHOOL-BASED REPORTING
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MECHANISMS: PROVIDED, THAT ALL REPORTS RECEIVED
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THROUGH THIS CHANNEL SHALL BE PROMPTLY REFERRED TO THE
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RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION AND
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MONITORING. THE DETAILS OF THE REPORTING CHANNELS SHALL
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BE CONSPICUOUSLY POSTED ON THE SCHOOL WALLS AND
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WEBSITE, IF ANY."
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Sec, 5. A new Section 6 is hereby inserted after the renumbered Section 5 of
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Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the
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subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
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"SEC. 6. CREATION OF AN INVESTIGATIVE CHILD PROTECTION
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COMMITTEE. - AN INVESTIGATIVE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE
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SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN EVERY SCHOOL TO HANDLE BULLYING
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CASES. THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING
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MEMBERS:
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1. 
THE SCHOOL HEAD OR ADMINISTRATOR
2. 
THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OR DESIGNATED TEACHER
3. 
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TEACHERS, AS DESIGNATED BY 
THE FACULTY


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4.
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A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PARENTS, AS DESIGNATED BY THE 
PARENTS-TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STUDENTS, EXCEPT IN 
KINDERGARTEN, AS DESIGNATED BY THE SUPREME STUDENT 
COUNCIL
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS DESIGNATED 
BY THE PUNONG BARANGAY, PREFERABLY A MEMBER OF THE 
BARANGAY COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. 
FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THIS COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE 
SHALL BE OPTIONAL.
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THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING 
INVESTIGATIONS, PERFORMING FACT-FINDING, RESOLVING CASES 
OF BULLYING, AND RECOMMENDING APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY 
ACTIONS FOR THE PERPETRATOR. THE COMMITTEE SHALL 
LIKEWISE ASSESS THE LEVEL OF THREAT INVOLVED AND ADOPT 
APPROPRIATE REHABILITATION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS."
Sec. 6. A new Section 7 is hereby inserted after the new Section 6 of Republic Act 
No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the subsequent 
sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 7. PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION - DURING THE INVESTIGATION 
PERIOD, THE ALLEGED PERPETRATOR OF BULLYING OR 
RETALIATION SHALL BE PLACED UNDER PREVENTIVE SUSPENSION 
AND SHALL BE TEMPORARILY BARRED FROM ATTENDING CLASSES. 
THIS SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO PROVIDING REASONABLE 
ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WILL ENABLE THE STUDENT TO CATCH UP 
ON ANY MISSED ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS UPON THE 
CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION OR UPON THE RESOLUTION 
AND RECOMMENDATION OF APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BY THE 
INVESTIGATIVE CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE."


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Sec. 7. A new Section 8 is hereby inserted after the new Section 7 of Republic Act 
No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the subsequent 
sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 8. INSTALLATION OF CCTV CAMERAS IN CLASSROOMS FOR 
BULLYING PREVENTION. - ALL ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS SHALL INSTALL CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) 
CAMERAS IN CLASSROOMS TO ENHANCE THE MONITORING AND 
ENFORCEMENT OF ANTI-BULLYING MEASURES, SUBJECT TO THE 
GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE DEPED AND IN COORDINATION WITH 
THE NATIONAL PRIVACY COMMISSION (NPC). THE RECORDINGS 
FROM THE CCTV FOOTAGE SHALL BE USED SOLELY FOR THE 
INVESTIGATION OF BULLYING INCIDENTS AND OTHER MATTERS 
CONCERNING THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF STUDENTS."
Sec. 8. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying 
Act of 2013" is hereby amended as follows:
"SEC. [5] 9. Reporting Requirement - All schools shall inform their respective 
schools division superintendents in writing about the anti-bullying policies 
formulated within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. Such notification 
shall likewise be an administrative requirement prior to the operation of new 
schools.
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Beginning with the school year after the effectivity of this Act, and every first week 
of the start of the school year thereafter, schools shall submit a report to their 
respective schools division superintendents all relevant information, INCLUDING 
ACTIONS TAKEN, IMPLEMENTATION OF REHABILITATION AND 
INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, and statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation. 
The schools division superintendents shall compile these data and report the same 
to the Secretary of the DepED who shall likewise formally transmit a 
comprehensive report to the Committee on Basic Education of both the House of 
Representatives and the Senate."


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Sec. 9. A new Section 11 is hereby inserted after the renumbered Section 10 of 
Republic Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the 
subsequent sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 11. LIABILITY OF PARENTS OR GUARDIANS - PARENTS, 
GUARDIANS, OR ANY PERSON EXERCISING PARENTAL AUTHORITY 
SHALL BE CIVILLY LIABLE FOR THE INJURIES AND DAMAGES 
CAUSED BY THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF A CHILD UNDER THEIR 
PARENTAL AUTHORITY AND LIVING IN THEIR COMPANY, WHEN 
SUCH CHILD IS FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF BULLYING 
OR RETALIATION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 2180 OF THE 
CIVIL CODE."
Sec. 10. A new Section 12 is hereby inserted after the new Section 11 of Republic 
Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the subsequent 
sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 12. APPLICABILITY OF REPUBUC ACT NO. 9344 - IF THE 
BULLYING INCIDENT OR ACT OF RETALIATION RESULTS IN 
SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURIES OR DEATH, THE CASE SHALL BE 
HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC 
ACT NO. 9344, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "JUVENILE JUSTICE 
AND WELFARE ACT OF 2006," AS AMENDED, AS MAY BE 
WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE 
INCIDENT."
Sec. 11. A new Section 13 is hereby inserted after the new Section 12 of Republic 
Act No. 10627, otherwise known as the "Anti-Bullying Act of 2013" and the subsequent 
sections shall be renumbered accordingly:
"SEC. 13. OTHER OFFENSES PUNISHABLE BY LAW. - THIS ACT 
SHALL BE WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO OTHER CRIMINAL, CIVIL, OR 
ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES PROVIDED BY LAW AND SHALL NOT 
PREVENT THE VICTIMS FROM AVAILING OF THE SAME 
INDEPENDENT OF THE REMEDIES PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ACT."
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. -The amounts necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged against the current year available appropriations of the Department 
of Education (DepED). Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous 
implementation shall be included in the annual general appropriations.
Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — DepED shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected shall remain in 
full force and effect.
Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules 
and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, amended, and/or modified 
accordingly.
Sec. 16. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines. 
Approved,