DepEd resolves 95% of bullying cases in W. Visayas schools

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 recorded 966 reported bullying incidents in schools across Western Visayas during school year 2025-2026, with about 95% of the cases already resolved.

Of the 966 cases, 867 have been resolved, while 99 remain under monitoring.

Thirteen cases were referred to other government agencies for appropriate intervention.

“Most of the cases were addressed at the school level because schools have their own mechanisms for handling bullying incidents,” said Leonerico Barredo, chief of DepEd 6’s Education Support Services Division, during a press conference on June 30.

Barredo attributed the high resolution rate to the schools’ existing anti-bullying mechanisms.

DepEd 6 data showed Iloilo City logged the highest number of reported incidents with 452 cases, followed by Guimaras (213), Iloilo Province (96), Capiz (89), Antique (76), Roxas City (30), Passi City (8), and Aklan (2).

All 99 cases still under monitoring were recorded in Guimaras.

The 13 referred cases were distributed across Iloilo Province (5), Guimaras (3), Antique (2), Capiz (2), and Aklan (1).

Barredo said physical bullying remained the most commonly reported form, followed by cyberbullying, noting that incidents continued to occur both within school premises and through online platforms.

Other reported forms included verbal, social, and gender-based bullying.

Barredo explained that every reported incident is documented and subjected to intervention measures at the school level.

“These are endorsed through the Schools Division Offices to the DepEd Central Office’s Learner Rights and Protection Division, which monitors the implementation of the intervention,” he said.

He added that DepEd 6 has rolled out We CARE (We are Child Advocates for Resilience and Empathy), a regional learner protection initiative built on three areas: enhanced monitoring systems, responsive interventions, and capacity building for learner rights and protection personnel, teachers, parents, and other stakeholders.

“Through the We CARE program, we are strengthening our efforts to ensure that learners’ rights are protected,” Barredo said.

The program complements the implementation of DepEd Order No. 006, s. 2026, which provides guidelines on ensuring safe and motivating learning environments in schools.

The order includes provisions on school security, reasonable inspections, handling of prohibited items, and emergency response protocols while safeguarding learners’ rights.

The measures build on Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, which requires all elementary and secondary schools in the Philippines to adopt policies for preventing and addressing bullying.

Regional Director Cristito A. Eco urged parents to remain actively involved in their children’s lives, stressing that ensuring learners’ safety and well-being is a shared responsibility.

“Ensuring the safety and well-being of learners is not the responsibility of schools alone. Parents, families, communities, and our partners all have a role to play in protecting our children,” he said.