LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Education in Bicol (DepEd-5) is improving its strategies for addressing bullying in schools as it conducts training for the implementation of a prevention program, which will continue until Friday.

DepEd-5 Regional Director Gilbert Sadsad said the training aims to ensure the effective implementation of the DepEd’s anti-bullying policy among 100 participants from across the country.

“The program seeks to promote positive behavioral changes in how reports of bullying are handled and to review and update localized anti-bullying policies in schools,” Sadsad said in a statement on Tuesday.

Participants in the training include focal persons for regional learner rights and protection, school heads, registered guidance counselors, and members of the regional federations of the Supreme Elementary Learner Government (SELG) and Supreme Secondary Learner Government (SSLG).

“This national event reaffirms our commitment to complying with Sections 4 and 13 of DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2014, which implements the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10627), requiring all schools to adopt an Anti-Bullying Policy,” Sadsad said, adding that the training aims to enhance participants’ understanding of bullying prevention protocols.

The course will cover various topics, including an overview of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10627, case management of bullying incidents, strategies for addressing bullying behavior, and the development or updating of anti-bullying policies and codes of conduct within schools.

Sadsad said the event will feature presentations on research related to child rights awareness among regional and division federated officers of the SELG, as well as updates and the crafting of the localized anti-bullying policy and code of conduct for learners in the Luzon and Mindanao clusters.

Sadsad said that as part of its commitment to combat bullying, DepEd has established the Learner Rights and Protection Office to facilitate bullying prevention programs and has designated regional Learner Rights and Protection focal persons to strengthen anti-bullying efforts nationwide.

“In Bicol, student leaders from the SSLG and SELG have been actively involved in promoting anti-bullying initiatives, contributing to the creation of a safe and supportive learning environment,” he added. (PNA)