THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2 has convened the Technical Working Group tasked to review the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Law of 2013.

The TWG was created after EDCOM 2’s public hearing on bullying, following De La Salle University’s research recommendations to amend the IRR and strengthen the provisions related to the Child Protection Committee, improve systems for reporting bullying cases, and clarify the structure and systems of DepEd related to bullying.

During previous EDCOM 2 discussions, the discrepancy between the data reported by DepEd and data released by international assessments such as PISA was pointed out, including structural and manpower concerns that affected the underreporting of bullying cases.

Data also indicates that the country produced a relatively low number of graduates with Masters in Guidance and Counseling from 2018-2021, compared to the available or unfilled guidance counselor positions.

This poses a big concern regarding the supply of professionals who could help address or provide relevant services on bullying and mental health in schools.

In contrast, data from DepEd shows that as of March 2024, there are 4,460 vacancies for guidance counselor positions that could not be filled.

The DLSU study shows that the prevalence of bullying is highest in areas with high student-to-teacher ratios and stress that guidance counselors play a critical role in this effort.

Currently, the starting salary of guidance counselors is at Salary Grade 11 or PhP 27,000 per month, despite being required to complete a master’s degree and pass a licensure exam.

“Considering the high prevalence of bullying in our schools and the rising mental health concerns in the country, it is crucial that we strengthen our interventions to support learners and build their resilience. Improving the quality of basic education should go hand in hand with providing a safe environment for our learners,” EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Gatchalian said.