Senators Demand Stronger Anti-Bullying Policies as Mural Project Highlights Issue
In a powerful visual statement against school violence, a student placed a red handprint on a wall beside Ramon Magsaysay High School along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City on March 13, 2026. This act was part of a three-day anti-bullying mural project that coincided with urgent legislative action. On Monday, March 16, 2026, senators pushed for significantly stronger anti-bullying policies in schools as a Senate panel conducted a comprehensive review of existing safeguards. This review comes amid persistent and troubling reports of bullying incidents involving Filipino students across the nation.
Alarming Statistics Prompt Legislative Action
At the hearing, Committee on Basic Education chair Senator Bam Aquino declared the issue a matter of deep concern for parents and entire communities. He cited disturbing data indicating that bullying remains frighteningly widespread in Philippine educational institutions. The hearing was called amid concern that schools and other public spaces may be turning into places of fear instead of learning, innovation and empathy, Aquino stated.
He presented findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which tagged the Philippines as the bullying capital of the world. The data revealed that 50 percent of Grade 5 students report being bullied at least once a month, and one in three Filipino students overall experiences bullying in schools. When our children are bullied, we are creating a generation full of trauma, Aquino warned, emphasizing the long-term psychological impact.
Calls for Expanding and Enforcing the Anti-Bullying Act
Senator Erwin Tulfo strongly backed proposals to expand the scope of Republic Act No. 10627, the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013. He argued that current measures may no longer be sufficient to deter repeated acts of bullying. Bullying is not a trivial matter. Too many bullying incidents are still being recorded in our schools every year, Tulfo asserted.
He insisted the law must be reviewed to make school responses more proactive, especially in cases where students are too terrified to file formal complaints. Tulfo raised the critical need for schools and teachers to act immediately on reports or visible signs of bullying, rather than waiting for incidents to go viral on social media before authorities respond. It is not proactive, Mr. Chair. So perhaps if we receive a complaint, a whisper, a report, a tip, we should already act, he urged the committee.
Proposals for Comprehensive School Safety Measures
Senator Raffy Tulfo also sounded the alarm over recent severe bullying cases, including incidents that allegedly led to self-harm and suicide among students. He proposed a multi-faceted approach for stricter enforcement, including:
- Tougher penalties for schools that fail to act on bullying reports promptly.
- Installation of closed-circuit television cameras in classrooms and common areas.
- Mandatory counseling and psychological support for affected students.
- Enhanced teacher and parent training programs on bullying prevention.
- Stronger Good Manners and Right Conduct instruction in the curriculum.
- Added school security personnel and measures.
- An effective and trusted anonymous reporting system for students.
Systemic Challenges and Department of Education Response
The Senate hearing further highlighted a critical shortage of guidance counselors in public schools, which lawmakers said severely hampers efforts to investigate and address bullying cases promptly and effectively. This resource gap presents a significant barrier to student welfare.
In response, Department of Education officials clarified existing protocols. Department of Education Public-Private Partnership Office Director Razzel Anne Requesto explained that teachers may already begin preliminary fact-finding and report cases to school heads even before a formal complaint is officially filed. The teacher themselves can already start the preliminary fact-finding. And then, the teacher can already report this to the school head so that they can take action, Requesto stated. She also noted that existing DepEd helplines are equipped to receive anonymous reports from learners, providing an alternative channel for students to seek help.
The combination of the symbolic mural project and the urgent Senate hearing underscores a national moment of reckoning regarding student safety. As legislative efforts intensify, the focus remains on transforming schools back into secure environments conducive to learning and personal growth for all Filipino students.
