DepEd reorients schools in Pangasinan on child protection policy amid bullying incidents

The Department of Education launched a reorientation program on its child protection policy on the heels of an alleged bullying incident that resulted in the death of a grade 11 student in Pangasinan.

In a report by Saleema Refran on GMA News TV "Balitanghali" on Wednesday, all schools in the province were part of the reorientation.

"Hindi talaga natin pinapayagan any form of bullying lalo na kung mismong mga estudyante ang involved. We have zero tolerance, ibig sabihin hindi natin dapat na ito ay pinapabayaang nangyayari sa eskwelahan," DepEd spokesperson Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla said.

According to data from DepEd, the incidents of bullying in schools nationwide have witnessed an increasing trend from 2013 to 2017.

A total of 65,717 cases were recorded during the said school years.

The report also underscored that the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 provides that the bullies, not only the victims, should receive appropriate counseling and rehabilitation interventions, apart from the disciplinary actions that they will face.

"Part po ng ating polisiya na pagkatapos po nating magkaroon ng fact-finding investigation and documentation ng mga nangyayari, kailangan bigyan din natin ng intervention ang mga bata," Sevilla said.

A grade 11 student recently died in Mangaldan, Pangasinan after being beaten up by three other students inside the school premises.

The perpetrators, all of whom were above 18 years old, were already in police custody. —Dona Magsino/ LDF, GMA News