THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) is calling on the Department of Education (DepEd) to fully implement the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, to strengthen student protection and safety in schools nationwide.

DepEd signed the revised IRR in August 2025 following two years of consultations and workshops with EDCOM 2.

The updated guidelines were developed based on findings from the 2019 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which showed that the Philippines was among the countries with the highest reported cases of school bullying.

Under the revised IRR, the definition of bullying has been expanded to cover precursor behaviors, repeated intimidation, cyberbullying, and social exclusion. It also establishes a three-tier response system that allows teachers to address minor incidents, assigns Learner Formation Officers to manage cases requiring formal intervention, and elevates serious cases to school heads, parents, and, when necessary, law enforcement authorities.

However, nearly a year after the revised rules were issued, EDCOM 2 said their implementation remains uneven among school divisions. The commission noted that many schools have yet to appoint Learner Formation Officers or develop localized anti-bullying policies, despite the importance of a safe learning environment in improving student performance and overall well-being.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also warned that bullying and other safety-related incidents tend to rise in overcrowded schools.

He said congested campuses often experience higher cases of violence, highlighting the need to deploy more School Counselor Associates to provide support and intervention for learners.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee said recent incidents of violence in schools underscore the urgent need to fully enforce the updated Anti-Bullying Act IRR.

Yee emphasized that every school must have a designated Learner Formation Officer, a localized anti-bullying policy, and functional referral mechanisms to ensure students receive immediate and appropriate assistance.

The commission recommended that DepEd strengthen enforcement of the revised guidelines, provide technical assistance to schools that have yet to adopt localized anti-bullying policies, ensure sufficient numbers of Learner Formation Officers and guidance personnel based on student population, and fast-track the hiring of School Counselor Associates and guidance counselors.