%
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. B. No. 9,^.0
Senate
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•22 JUL14 P3 *40
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND PROTECTION FOR 
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PERSONNEL IN MATTERS OF STUDENT 
DISCIPLINE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
EXPiJ\NATORY NOTE
With the implementation of the Child Protection Policy, pursuant to the United 
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the State has taken all appropriate 
measures to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with 
the child's human dignity.
Concomitant with the State's full regard to the children's entitlement to respect, 
dignity and integrity is the protection of the teachers. The teacher's well-being and 
their ability to manage stress must likewise be of paramount interest in order for them 
to effectively perform their vital role in shaping the lives of their students. By looking 
after the teachers' welfare, the students will be better equipped to become 
responsible, productive, empowered, and successful individuals.
With the increasing burden on teachers due to large class sizes, multiple shifts, 
and the heavier tasks with the implementation of K to 12 while practicing remote and 
face-to-face set up amidst pandemic, instilling discipline in their classrooms has 
become increasingly difficult. This is further aggravated by the lack of institutional 
support in the form of standards in classroom management, training on these 
standards and the permissible and effective methods of instilling discipline, as well as 
legal assistance and representation.


With these evolving considerations, it is now high time to ensure a nurturing 
and safe school environment not only for all children, but for our educators as well.
Hence, this bill seeks to institutionalize support mechanisms by giving teachers 
free legal assistance and trainings in matters involving classroom management and 
discipline. Further, the proposed measure aims to create guidelines that will set out, 
among others, the appropriate and effective responses and interventions that will 
address violation of school rules and regulations.
The immediate passage of this bill is imperative.
^NNY ANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
o( tl)f ^u>:rcurp
•22 JUL 14 P3-40
RECEIVED BY;
SENATE
S. B. No. 632
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND PROTECTION FOR 
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PERSONNEL IN MATTERS OF STUDENT 
DISCIPLINE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in the Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the " Teacher Protection
2 
Act"
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In all actions relating to children, the State shall
4 
accord special protection to children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, cruelty, and
5 
other conditions prejudicial to their development. Furthermore, the State has the duty
6 
to establish and maintain a complete and adequate system of public basic education
7 
geared towards the holistic development of a child.
8 
These policies are henceforth understood to encompass the State's
9 
responsibility to provide appropriate instruction to students about school discipline,
10 
their duties and responsibilities with respect to their peers, to their teachers and other
11 
persons of authority, and to members of their community.
12 
To this end, the State shall institutionalize measures to implement in all public
13 
schools clearly defined regulations on appropriate student behavior towards other
14 
students, teachers, and school staff during classes, and within and outside school
15 
premises.
16 
The State is also hereby bound to establish and maintain support systems,
17 
including training on classroom management and child discipline and legal assistance


1 
for teachers and school staff, who interact daily with students and thus find themselves
2 
in situations that could expose them to allegations of child abuse in the course of the
3 
discharge of their duties.
4 
It is hereby also declared that the State shall promote and Improve the working
5 
conditions of public school teachers and other school personnel, which are understood
6 
to determine whether or not the physical and emotional environments of children and
7 
teachers are conducive to learning and teaching.
8 
Sec. 3. Guidelines on the Implementation of Teacher Protection. - The
9 
Department of Education (DepEd) is hereby tasked to issue the Guidelines on the
10 
Implementation of Teacher Protection, hereinafter referred to as "Guidelines", within
11 
one hundred and twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act.
12 
For purposes of this Act, the Guidelines shall, among others, detail the
13 
following:
14 
a) The rights and responsibilities of teachers with respect to student discipline and
15 
classroom management, to the end of fostering a positive school climate and
16 
safe environment conducive to instruction and learning.
17 
School administrators and teachers shall exercise special parental
18 
authority over their students while under their supervision, instruction and
19 
custody. As such, the Guidelines to be produced by DepEd shall recognize their
20 
authority in the schools and in school-sanctioned events, and the need to
21 
conduct their classes in an organized manner that is conducive to learning.
22 
Thus, teachers are authorized to ensure that their students behave, respond
23 
and treat their teachers and classmates in a respectful manner. They shall call
24 
out disorderly or disrespectful behavior and deal with the same consistent with
25 
the law and the Guidelines to be issued by DepEd;
26 
b) Permissible, appropriate, and effective responses and interventions that will
27 
address violation of school rules and regulations to be administered by
28 
teachers, the school head, and other school staff; and
29 
c) A clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear designation of the
30 
competent authorities to investigate, propose, and apply the responses and
31 
interventions.


1 
Sec. 4. Acts Pursuant to the Guidelines Not Deemed As Child Abuse. - Any act
2 
committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the disciplinary rules and
3 
procedures Issued by DepEd shall not be deemed as child abuse, cruelty, or
4 
exploitation as defined in Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children
5 
Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act".
6 
Sec. 5. Consultation of Involved Sectors in the Drafting of Guidelines. -
7 
Students, parents, teachers, other school personnel, and the community, represented
8 
by their respective organizations, as well as professionals in child behavior and social
9 
work, shall each have meaningful involvement in the formulation of the Guidelines
10 
Sec. 6. Information Dissemination of the Guidelines. - The DepEd shall provide
11 
explanations, trainings, and workshops in order to familiarize students and families
12 
with the Guidelines, explain the expectations of various sectors involved, and describe
13 
the various preventive and positive responses and interventions that may be used.
14 
At the beginning of each school year, copies of the Guidelines shall be provided
15 
to each student as well as their parents or legal guardians.
16 
Sec. 7. Training of Teachers and School Personnel on the Guidelines. - All
17 
employees of the Division shall also annually receive instructions related to the specific
18 
contents of the Guidelines.
19 
Sec. 8. Professional Development relating to Student Discipline and Classroom
20 
Management - The DepEd shall provide teachers the appropriate pre-service and in-
21 
service trainings on child behavior and psychology, classroom management
22 
techniques, positive discipline, and other related fields, as well as on the Guidelines
23 
and the scope of their duties and responsibilities with respect to student discipline and
24 
classroom management.
25 
Sec. 9. Support Personnel. - The DepEd, with the Department of Budget and
26 
Management, shall also ensure that there is a sufficient number of items for guidance
27 
counsellors, who will serve as support personnel to teachers and school administrators
28 
in matters of student discipline.
29 
For purposes of this Act, DepEd shall endeavor to meet the recommended ratios
30 
of one guidance counsellor for every 200 students in public elementary and high
31 
schools.


1 
Sec. 10. Other Support Mechanisms for Student Discipline and Classroom
2 
Management - The DepEd shall provide such other mechanisms necessary to
3 
capacitate its teachers and other personnel on matters regarding child behavior and
4 
psychology, classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related
5 
fields. These measures shall include the conduct of periodic seminars and formulation
6 
of primers and other explanatory materials.
7 
Sec. 11. Protection for Teachers and School Personnel in Charges Related to
8 
Student Discipline and Ciassroom Management - In all cases related to student
9 
discipline and classroom management, including criniinal ana administrative charges
10 
of child abuse, DepEd shall extend to its teachers and other personnel the necessary
11 
protection, including legal assistance and representation.
12 
The DepEd shall ensure that respondents. In all stages of the disciplinary
13 
proceedings, are amply represented by the accredited union, or registered union, or
14 
registered union, where there is no existing accredited union, of teachers or non-
15 
teaching employees, as the case may be.
16 
Violation of this Section is a violation of due process and shall render the
17 
proceedings void and hold all responsible persons admin-stratively, civilly, and
18 
criminally liable.
19 
Sec. 12. Confidentiality of Identity of Parties and Proceedings under this Act. -
20 
No person, whether public or private and whether a party to the case or otherwise,
21 
shall publicize a case during its pendency. In no case shall the identity of complainants
22 
and respondents, or any information that may reasonably Identify them, be disclosed
23 
to the public during the pendency of the proceedings.
24 
Violation of this Section shall subject the person to the appropriate
25 
administrative, civil, criminal, and other liabilities.
26 
The DepEd shall issue its guidelines for the media with regard to the handling
27 
of cases within the contemplation of this Act.
28 
Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
29 
the effectivity of this Act, DepEd shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary
30 
to implement the provisions of this Act.


1 
Sec. 14. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
2 
subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
3 
not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
4 
Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7610 is hereby modified
5 
accordingly. All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
6 
proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary
7 
to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended,
8 
or modified accordingly.
9 
Sec. 16. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
10 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,