Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The formative years of a child are very essential periods for it shapes the 
development of children physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. The 
development of children during these years is triggered by the children's response to 
environment and experience. 
As it is well known that children spend a great amount of time in schools 
during these years, it cannot be any more stressed that the environment and 
experiences of children in schools play a huge role in the holistic development of a 
child. 
Recognizing the important role that educational systems play in a child's life, 
this Bill intends to institutionalize support mechanisms for public teachers and 
personnel. This means that permissible disciplinary measures, methods of classroom 
management including training on classroom management and child discipline and 
legal assistance for teachers and school staff, who stand in direct contact with 
students in the course of the discharge of their duties shall be provided. 
As such, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
January 26, 2023
5:24 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS ON MATTERS OF 
STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FOR TEACHERS AND 
PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM 
Be it enacted in the Senate rind the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Teacher Protection 
Act of 2023". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to 
promote the right of all the citizens to quality education and to provide a system of 
education that will foster the holistic growth of children. As children spend their 
formative years in educational facilities, the importance of the maintenance of a 
complete and adequate system of public basic education should be emphasized. 
To this end, the State shall create institutionalized measures for all public 
schools on regulations for student discipline and classroom management. 
SECTION 3. Coverage. - This Act shall be applicable to all teaching personnel 
of all public school institutions in the country, including non-teaching personnel who 
stand in direct contact with students in the course of the discharge of their duties. 
SECTION 4. Guidelines for Teachers. - The Department of Education 
(hereinafter referred to as “the Department”) is hereby tasked to issue policies and 
principles on student discipline and classroom management. 
For purposes of this Act, a teacher's manual is a written document detailing: 
1. The school's rules and regulation to be observed by teachers with respect
to students, whenever inside its premises or outside it;
2. Permissible, appropriate, and effective responses and interventions that
will address violations of school rules and regulations, including but not
limited to communications to parents, counseling, reprimand, and
detention, at each level and repetition of offense, to be administered by
teachers, the school head, and other school staff; and
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3. A clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear designation of 
the authorities competent to investigate, purpose, and apply the responses 
and interventions. 
 
The Department shall formulate a teacher's manual to be implemented in all 
schools under its jurisdiction. This manual shall set out, among others the 
disciplinary action to be taken against students who are found to have made 
malicious accusations of child abuse against teacher and school staff. 
 
SECTION 5. Any act committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the 
disciplinary rules and procedure issued by the Department not within the purview 
of R.A. No. 7610 shall not be deemed as child abuse, cruelty or exploitation. 
 
SECTION 6. Consultation of involved sectors in the drafting of student 
manual. - students, parents, teachers, other school personnel, and the community, 
represented by their respective organizations, as well as professionals in child 
behavior and social work, shall each have meaningful involvement in the formulation 
of the guidelines and the teacher's manual. 
 
SECTION 7. Information dissemination of the student manual. - The 
Department shall provide explanations, training, and workshops in order to 
familiarize students and families with the student manual, explain the expectations 
of various sectors involved, and describe the various preventive and positive 
responses and interventions that may be used. 
 
SECTION 8. Support personnel. - The Department, in coordination with the 
Department of Budget and Management, shall also ensure that there is a sufficient 
number of items for licensed guidance counselors, who will serve as support 
personnel to teachers and school administrators in matters of student discipline. 
 
For purposes of this Act, the Department shall implement the recommended 
ratio of one guidance counselor for every 200 students in both public and private 
primary and secondary schools. 
 
SECTION  9.  Other support mechanism for student discipline and classroom 
management - The Department shall provide such other mechanisms necessary to 
capacitate its teachers and other personnel on matters regarding child behavior and 
psychology, classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related 
fields. These measures shall include but not limited to the conduct of periodic 
seminars and formulation of primers and other explanatory materials. 
 
SECTION 10. Protection to teachers and school personnel in charges 
related to student discipline and classroom management - In all cases related 
to student discipline and classroom management, including criminal and 
administrative charges of child abuse, the Department shall extend to its teachers 
and other personnel the necessary protection, including but not limited to legal 
assistance and representation. 
 
The Department shall ensure that respondents, in all stages of the disciplinary 
proceedings, are amply represented by the accredited union, or registered union, 
where there is no existing accredited union, of teachers or non-teaching employees, 
as the case may be. 
 


Violation of this section shall render the administrative proceedings void and 
all responsible persons administratively liable for gross neglect of duty. 
 
SECTION 11. Confidentiality of identity of parties and proceeding under 
this Act. - No person, whether public or private and whether a party to the case or 
otherwise, shall publicize a case during its pendency. In no case shall the identity of 
complainants and respondents, or any information that may reasonably identify 
them, be disclosed to the public during the pendency of the proceedings. 
 
Violation of this Section shall subject the person to the appropriate 
administrative, civil, criminal, and other liabilities. 
 
The Department shall issue its guidelines for the media with regard to the 
handlings of cases within the contemplation of this Act. 
 
SECTION 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within sixty (60) 
days from the promulgation of this Act, the implementing rules and regulations for 
the proper implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the appropriate 
government office or agency in coordination with all the stakeholders and covered 
establishments and institutions. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid, the remainder or any of this provision hereof not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect. 
 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause - Republic Act No. 7610 is hereby modified 
accordingly. All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential issuances and other 
administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,