EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. NO. 1001
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 
TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN MATTERS OF STUDENT 
DISCIPLINE AND MECHANISMS FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION IN CASE RELATED THERETO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Public school teachers are at the very forefront in delivering educational service 
to millions of students. Aside from dealing with large class sizes, multiple shifts, 
and the additional tasks assigned to them under the K to 12 program, teachers 
considers instilling discipline in their classroom to be increasingly difficult.
Public school teachers lack the institutional support in standards and the 
permissible and effective methods of instilling discipline, guidance counselors to 
serve as support personnel, and legal assistance and representation.
Teacher protection is just as indispensable as child protection. To this end, this 
bill seeks to amend to Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the Child 
Abuse Law, to the extent that any act committed by a teacher or school 
personnel shall not be deemed as "child abuse" so long as the said act is 
pursuant to the disciplinary rules and procedures prescribed by the DepEd, 
through the issuance and implementation of a student manual.


This bill further seeks to establish institutionalized support mechanisms for 
teachers and school personnel in matters of classroom management and 
discipline, as well as the provision of pre-service and in-service training for 
DepEd personnel on child behavior and psychology, classroom management 
techniques, and positive discipline, among others.
This bill also seeks to provide legal assistance and representation by counsel and 
union or association representatives to protect teachers and school personnel in 
cases 
related 
to 
student 
discipline 
and 
classroom 
management. 
The 
confidentiality of the proceedings and the identity of all parties are further 
provided.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested.
MARIA LOURDES N A fO  S. BINAY 
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B. NO
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Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay
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AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 
TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN MATTERS OF STUDENT 
DISCIPLINE AND MECHANISMS FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND 
PROVIDING FOR THE PROTECTION IN CASE RELATED THERETO
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Phiiippines in 
Congress assembied:
Section 1. Short Tide. -  This Act shall be known as the 
Protection Act o f 2019."
Teacher
Sec. 2. Deciaration o f State Poiicies. -  In all actions relating to children, 
the State shall accord special protection to children from all forms of abuse, 
exploitation, cruelty, and other conditions prejudicial to their development. 
Furthermore, the State has the duty to establish and maintain a complete and 
adequate system of public basic education geared towards the holistic 
development of a child.
These policies are henceforth understood to encompass the State's 
responsibility to provide appropriate instruction to students about school 
discipline, their duties and responsibilities with respect to their peers, to their 
teachers and other persons of authority, and to members of their community.
To this end, the State shall institutionalize measures to implement in all 
public schools clearly defined regulations on appropriate student behavior


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towards other students, teachers, and school staff, during classes, and within 
and outside school premises.
The State is also hereby bound to establish and maintain support systems, 
including training on classroom management and child discipline and legal 
assistance for teachers and school staff, who daily stand in direct contact with 
students and are thus find themselves in situations that could expose them to 
allegations of child abuse in the course of the discharge of their duties.
It is hereby also declared that the State shall promote and improve the 
working conditions of public school teachers and other school personnel, which 
are understood to determine whether or not the physical and emotional 
environments of children and teachers are conducive to learning and teaching.
Sec. 3. Code o f Discipline or Student Manuals. -  Within one hundred and 
twenty (120) days the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education 
(hereinafter, the Department) is hereby tasked to issue policies and principles on 
student discipline and classroom management, which shall govern all Division- 
level student manuals.
For purposes of this Act, a student manual is a written document 
detailing:
(1) the school's rules and regulations to be observed by students 
with respect to fellow students and school personnel and 
property, whenever inside its premises or outside it, in case 
where conduct would interfere with the operation of the 
school or endanger the safety of other students and school 
staff;
(2) the rights and responsibilities of students in relation to school 
rules and regulations, to the end of fostering a positive school 
climate and safe environment conducive to instruction and 
learning;


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(3) permissible, 
appropriate, 
and 
effective 
responses 
and 
interventions that will address violation of school rules and 
regulations, including but not limited to communication 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
(4) a clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear 
designation of the authorities competent to investigate, 
propose, and apply the responses and interventions.
The Department shall formulate a student manual to be implemented in all 
schools under its jurisdiction, which shall conform to the guidelines so 
established. 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 teachers and school staff.
Sec. 4. Act Pursuant to Code o f Discipline or Student Manuals not Deemed 
as Child Abuse. -  Any act committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the 
disciplinary rules and procedure issued by the Department shall not be deemed 
as child abuse, cruelty, or exploitation as defined in Republic Act No. 7610 or the 
Special Protection o f Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act
Sec. 5. Consultation o f Involved Sectors in the Drafting o f 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 student manual.
Sec. 6. Information Dissemination o f the Student Manual. -  The 
Department shall provide explanations, training, and workshops in order to 
familiarize students and families with the student manual, 
explain the
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expectations of various sectors involved, and describe the various preventive and 
positive responses and interventions that may be used.
At the beginning of each school year, copies of the student manual shall 
be provided to each student as well as their parents or legal guardians.
Sec. 7. 
Training o f Teachers and School Personnel on the School 
Manual. -  All employees of the Division shall also annually receive instruction 
related to the specific contents of the student manual.
Sec. 8. Professional Development Relating to Student Discipline and 
Classroom Management. 
-  The 
Department shall 
provide teachers the 
appropriate pre-service and in-service training on child behavior and psychology, 
classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related fields, 
as well as the Department's policies and principles governing the student manual 
and the scope of their duties and responsibilities with respect to student 
discipline and classroom management.
Sec. 9. Support Personnel -  The Department, with the Department of 
Budget and Management, shall also ensure that there is a sufficient number of 
items for 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 endeavor to meet the 
recommended ratios of one guidance counselor for every 200 students in public 
elementary and high schools.
Sec. 10. Other Support Mechanisms 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 be limited to the


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conduct of periodic seminars and formulation of primers and other explanatory 
materials.
Sec. 11. Protection to Teachers and School Personnel in Charges Related 
to Student Discipline and Ciassroom 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 is a violation of due process and shall render the 
proceedings void and all responsible persons administratively, civilly, and 
criminally liable.
Sec. 12. Confidentiai o f Identity o f Parties and Proceedings 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 
handling of cases within the contemplation of this Act.
Sec. 13. Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity date of this Act, the Department shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 14. Separability Clause. -  Should any provision herein be declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of 
this Act.
Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. -  Republic Act No. 7610 is hereby modified 
accordingly. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or other issuances 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
Sec. 16. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,