The Second Congressional Commission on Education has called on the Department of Education to fully enforce the revised rules of the Anti-Bullying Act. Gaps in implementation leave students vulnerable nearly a year after updates took effect.
The commission said the updated implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 10627 were signed in August 2025. The changes expand the definition of bullying and create a three-tier response system for incidents.
EDCOM 2 executive director Karol Mark Yee noted that many schools still lack designated learner formation officers and localized policies. He stressed the need for referral systems to support students.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, an EDCOM 2 member, linked higher violence rates to overcrowded schools. He called for hiring 10,000 school counselor associates using the P2 billion allocated in the 2026 national budget.
