by FFE PH News staff

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara praised President Benigno S. Aquino III for finally signing the anti-bullying bill into law, calling the move “a huge step in protecting our children from the earliest forms of violence.” The senator, whose own son was bullied at school, is one of the principal authors and was public about his personal reason for advocating the bill.

Senator Angara is one of the principal authors of the bill.

He said “I congratulate both houses of Congress and our President for working together in providing the Filipino youth the opportunity for maximum learning in a peaceful and violence-free setting through the passage of this law.

“The school is our children’s second home. I call on school authorities to be proactive and responsive to the law in order to ensure the safety of the students. That is their primary responsibility and promise to parents.”

The senator cited a 2009 report by Plan International and Unicef that said 4 out of 10 students in Grades 1 to 3 and 7 out of 10 students in Grades 4 to 6 and high school experienced some kind of violence in school.

“Bullying is a symptom of a deeper problem. It should never be tolerated. Through the Anti-Bullying Act, we provide a platform for young victims to speak up and seek help. Quality education and a safe and positive learning environment go hand in hand,” he added.

Schools are given six months to prepare the needed policies.

Under the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 or Republic Act 10627, all schools in the primary and secondary levels are required to adopt anti-bullying measures that will prevent and address bullying.

According to the law, bullying refers to the use of written, verbal, electronic or physical gestures directed to another student that causes fear of physical and emotional harm.