EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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AUG 27 P 2 5 9
S E N A T E
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
INSTITU TIO N ALIZIN G  SUPPORT MECHANISMS AND PROTECTION FOR 
PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PERSONNEL IN  MATTERS OF STUDENT 
DISCIPLINE FOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
EXPLANATORY 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 each day, and the heavier tasks with the implementation of K to 12, 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.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
Denali' 
of tijr
*19 
AUG 27 P 2 59
S E N A T E
R E tt... 3BV:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
IN STITU TIO N ALIZIN G  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 o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
the Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Teacher Protection
A ct"
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  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 towards other 
students, teachers, and school staff during classes, and within and outside school 
premises.


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The State is also hereby bound to establish and maintain support systems,
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including training on classroom management and child discipline and legal assistance
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for teachers and school staff, who interact daily with students and thus find
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themselves in situations that could expose them to allegations of child abuse in the
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course of the discharge of their duties.
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It is hereby also declared that the State shall promote and improve the
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working conditions of public school teachers and other school personnel, which are
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understood to determine whether or not the physical and emotional environments of
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children and teachers are conducive to learning and teaching.
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Sec. 3. Guidelines on the Implementation o f Teacher Protection. -  The
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Department of Education (DepEd) is hereby tasked to issue the Guidelines on the
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Implementation of Teacher Protection, hereinafter referred to as "Guidelines", within
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one hundred and twenty (120) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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For purposes of this Act, the Guidelines shall, among others, detail the
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following:
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a) 
The rights and responsibilities of teachers with respect to student discipline
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and classroom management, to the end of fostering a positive school climate
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and safe environment conducive to instruction and learning.
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School administrators and teachers shall exercise special parental
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authority over their students while under their supervision, instruction and
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custody. As such, the Guidelines to be produced by DepEd shall recognize
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their authority in the schools and in school-sanctioned events, and the need
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to conduct their classes in an organized manner that is conducive to learning.
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Thus, teachers are authorized to ensure that their students behave, respond
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and treat their teachers and classmates in a respectful manner. They shall call
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out disorderly or disrespectful behavior and deal with the same consistent
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with the law and the Guidelines to be issued by DepEd;
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b) 
Permissible, appropriate, and effective responses and interventions that will
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address violation of school rules and regulations to be administered by
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teachers, the school head, and other school staff; and


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c) 
A clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear designation of the
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competent authorities to investigate, propose, and apply the responses and
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interventions.
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Sec. 4. Acts Pursuant to the Guidelines Not Deemed As Child Abuse. -  Any act
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committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the disciplinary rules and
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procedures issued by DepEd shall 
not be deemed as child abuse, cruelty, or
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exploitation as defined in Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of
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Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act".
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Sec. 5. Consultation o f Involved Sectors in the Drafting o f Guidelines. -
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Students, 
parents, 
teachers, 
other 
school 
personnel, 
and 
the 
community,
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represented by their respective organizations, as well as professionals in child
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behavior and social work, shall each have meaningful involvement in the formulation
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of the Guidelines
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Sec. 6. Information Dissemination o f the Guidelines. -  The DepEd shall
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provide explanations, trainings, and workshops in order to familiarize students and
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families with the Guidelines, explain the expectations of various sectors involved,
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and describe the various preventive and positive responses and interventions that
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may be used.
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At the beginning of each school year, copies of the Guidelines shall be
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provided to each student as well as their parents or legal guardians.
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Sec. 7. Training o f Teachers and School Personnel on the Guidelines. -  All
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employees of the Division shall also annually receive instructions related to the
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specific contents of the Guidelines.
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Sec. 8. Professional Development relating to Student Discipline and Classroom
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Management. -  The DepEd shall provide teachers the appropriate pre-service and
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in-service trainings on child behavior and psychology, classroom management
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techniques, positive discipline, and other related fields, as well as on the Guidelines
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and the scope of their duties and responsibilities with respect to student discipline
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and classroom management.
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Sec. 9. Support Personnel. -  The DepEd, with the Department of Budget and
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Management, shall also ensure that there is a sufficient number of Items for


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guidance counsellors, who will serve as support personnel to teachers and school
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administrators in matters of student discipline.
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For purposes of this Act, DepEd shall endeavor to meet the recommended
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ratios of one guidance counsellor for every 200 students in public elementary and
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high schools.
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Sec. 10. Other Support Mechanisms for Student Discipline and Classroom
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Management -  The DepEd shall provide such other mechanisms necessary to
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capacitate its teachers and other personnel on matters regarding child behavior and
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psychology, classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related
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fields. These measures shall include the conduct of periodic seminars and
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formulation of primers and other explanatory materials.
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Sec. 11. Protection for Teachers and School Personnel in Charges Related to
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Student Discipline and Classroom Management -  In all cases related to student
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discipline and classroom management, including criminal and administrative charges
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of child abuse, DepEd shall extend to its teachers and other personnel the necessary
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protection, including legal assistance and representation.
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The DepEd shall ensure that respondents, in all stages of the disciplinary
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proceedings, are amply represented by the accredited union, or registered union, or
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registered union, where there is no existing accredited union, of teachers or non-
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teaching employees, as the case may be.
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Violation of this Section is a violation of due process and shall render the
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proceedings void and hold all responsible persons administratively, civilly, and
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criminally liable.
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Sec. 12. Confidentiality o f Identity o f Parties and Proceedings under this Act.
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-  No person, whether public or private and whether a party to the case or otherwise,
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shall publicize a case during its pendency. In no case shall the identity of
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complainants and respondents, or any information that may reasonably identify
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them, be disclosed to the public during the pendency of the proceedings.
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Violation of this Section shall subject the person to the appropriate
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administrative, civil, criminal, and other liabilities.
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The DepEd shall issue its guidelines for the media with regard to the handling
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of cases within the contemplation of this Act.


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Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, DepEd shall promulgate the rules and regulations
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necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 14. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
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Sec. 15. Repealing Clause. -  Republic Act No. 7610 is hereby modified
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accordingly. All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential
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proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are contrary
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to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
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amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 16. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,