MANILA – The House of Representatives has unanimously approved a bill designating the month of September each year as “National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month.”
House Bill (HB) No. 11198, also known as the “National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month Act,” passed with 222 affirmative votes during a plenary session on Tuesday, January 28.
The bill aims to raise public awareness of bullying prevention and underscores the importance of protecting children and youth from abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other harmful conditions, ultimately fostering safe environments and ensuring access to quality education for all.
Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission (NYC) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), will implement an annual program of activities to observe National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month.
The DepEd, NYC, and CWC are authorized to request assistance from other government entities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations, to effectively achieve the objectives of the Act.
In addition, the DepEd will oversee nationwide activities in all public and private elementary and high schools to raise awareness of bullying prevention and other forms of child abuse.
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA), in partnership with DepEd, NYC, and CWC, will ensure the wide dissemination of information about the new law.
Local government units (LGUs), private organizations, civil society groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and people’s organizations are encouraged to participate in National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month through simple ceremonies and related activities.
The bill also mandates that, within 90 days of the Act’s effectivity, DepEd, in consultation with NYC, CWC, PIA, and other concerned agencies, will issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation.
The Act will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.