Manila: The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure declaring September of every year as National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month to strengthen public awareness and mobilize schools, families, communities, and government institutions against bullying.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill No. 10134, or the proposed "National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month Act," was approved on third and final reading with 245 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and no abstentions. House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III emphasized the necessity for prevention, awareness, and early intervention to protect children from the enduring impacts of bullying.
"Bullying is not something we should dismiss as a normal part of growing up. It can leave wounds that we may not immediately see, but which a child can carry for many years. Kaya mahalaga ang prevention, awareness, at maagang pagkilos (That's why prevention, awareness, and early action are important)," he stated in a statement Wednesday.
Under HB 10134, the observance aims to raise public awareness about bullying prevention and underscore the importance of protecting children and young people from abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other harmful conditions. The measure identifies the promotion of safe learning environments and equitable access to quality education for all as among its goals.
The legislation mandates the Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), to prepare and implement an annual program of activities for the observance. DepEd is tasked with overseeing awareness-raising activities on bullying prevention and the prevention of other forms of abuse, cruelty, and exploitation against children in all public and private elementary and high schools nationwide.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) will collaborate with DepEd, the NYC, and CWC to ensure the effective dissemination of information about the law and its objectives. The measure also encourages local government units, private organizations, civil society groups, nongovernment organizations, and people's organizations to participate in the observance, making bullying prevention a broader community effort rather than a responsibility confined to schools.
Dy stated that the approach recognizes that addressing bullying requires the participation of everyone who plays a role in a child's life. "Ang laban kontra bullying ay responsibilidad nating lahat - ng mga guro, magulang, paaralan, pamahalaan, at ng mismong mga kabataan (The fight against bullying is a responsibility of us all - teachers, parents, schools, government and the youth themselves). We need to teach our children not only to stand up for themselves, but also to stand up for others who may be afraid to speak," he said.
Dy also noted that bullying has evolved with technology, with harassment no longer confined to classrooms, playgrounds, or school grounds but increasingly taking place through social media and other digital platforms. He stated that this makes awareness and early intervention even more crucial, as children can now be exposed to harassment even after they leave school.
