Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION XI
Division of Davao del Sur
Matanao 1 District
BUAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL-BASED CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING PRACTICES

STATEMENT OF POLICY

Buas Elementary School, anchored on DepEd’s core values, commits itself to uphold the right of every
child and employee to a safe learning and working environment where there is mutual respect,
kindness, and concern for one another. It is thereby imperative that zero tolerance to bullying and
retaliation (against persons who report bullying cases) permeates in the school environment. To this
end, we in Buas Elem. School shall be vigilant in identifying, reporting, and responding to bullying cases
that have come to our attention. It shall be our commitment to help both the victim and the perpetrator
of bullying.

B. Definition of Bullying and Acts of Bullying

Bullying shall be defined as any severe or repeated use by one or more individuals (students with co-
students and employees with co-employees) of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical
act or gesture, or any combination thereof, towards another student or employee that causes said
individual physical or emotional harm, therefore creating a hostile learning or working environment in
school. The following are the acts considered as bullying:

1. Physical: punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks,
teasing, fighting and the use of objects as weapons

2. Verbal: slanderous statements, accusations, name-calling, tormenting, commenting negatively about

the other’s physical appearance, and the use of foul language or profanity directed towards the other

3. Cyber-bullying or any bullying done through the use of technology or any electronic means such as,
but not limited to texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, social media, online games or other
platforms or formats as defined in DepED Order No. 40, s. 2012.

4. Any act that causes damage to the victim’s emotional well-being such as social bullying, gender-based
bullying and the like.

C. Scope of Prohibited Acts

1. Acts of bullying as previously enumerated are prohibited in the following locations and situations: a.
Inside the school campus, immediately outside the gates of the school campus, at school-sponsored or
school related activities (whether in school or off-school grounds), in school buses or transportation
hired by the school to transport the students or employees, and through technology or electronic
devices owned by the school;

b. In a location or activity that is not school-related or through the use of technology or electronic
devices not owned by the school, if said act creates a hostile environment in school for the victim, thus
disrupting the student’s learning process or the employee’s work output.
2. Retaliation against a person who reports a bullying case or who provides information during an
investigation of the case is considered another form of bullying.

D. Procedure for Immediate Response to Bullying Cases

1. The bullying victim or anyone who was there to witness the bullying or who has information about a
bullying incident must. Immediately report the incident to any school personnel.

2. The school personnel, bus operator/driver/ bus mother who receives the report must intervene by

a) stopping the bullying immediately;

b) separating the students involved;

c) removing the victim, or in appropriate cases, the perpetrator of the bullying from the site;

d) ensuring the safety of the victim (if necessary, bringing her to the clinic if she needs medical attention;

e) bringing the perpetrator of the bullying to the Class Adviser or Guidance Counselor.

E. Reporting System for Bullying Cases

1. For Students:

a. The victim or the witness to the bullying may report to the school authorities in the following
ways: Direct reporting-verbal and/or written (through a bullying report form)
b. Via mobile phone where students can report immediately from home

c. The victim or the witness to the bullying can also alert the class officers or SPG about the bullying
incident which in turn they will relay to the school authorities.

d. In case bullying happens in the school bus, the victim or the witness to the bullying must report
to the bus mother and/or driver/operator who must then report the matter to the school
authorities.

e. To encourage reporting and prevent retaliation, witnesses and bystanders will be protected and
given anonymity

f. If an incident involves student/s from another school, the said school’s administrators must be
promptly alerted about the incident so that they can also take the appropriate action.

g. The principal is immediately informed about the bullying incident and the Class Adviser shall fill out
the Bullying Intake sheet.

2. For Employees

a. An employee who is a victim of bullying follows the procedure in reporting cases as stipulated in the
Operations Manual under Section 11. Termination of Employment, Offenses and Sanctions.

b. A witness to the bullying incident must submit an anecdotal report to the Administration regarding
the incident

F. Investigation Process and Disciplinary Sanctions for Bullying Cases

The following are the steps carried out by school authorities in investigating bullying cases. When a very
serious case of bullying occurs, where the level of threat is very high, the school shall ensure immediate
intervention. When such an incident happens, appropriate steps for intervention will be promptly taken
within 24 hours from the time of the incident.
Investigation Process
Disciplinary Sanctions
1. Once report is received, the Class Adviser calls
for the alleged perpetrator, victim, witness/es
separately to investigate and gather the facts of
the case. During this process, the Class Adviser
initially determines if the incident qualifies as
bullying or not, depending on the definition of
bullying as stated in the policy. Incidences that do
not qualify as bullying will be treated as usual
misconduct cases and will be investigated
accordingly.
2. Perpetrator and victim are then, referred to the
Guidance Counselor who calls them separately for
counseling.
3. Parents or guardian of perpetrator shall be
informed of the complaint in writing. The student
shall be given the opportunity to answer the
complaint in writing, with the assistance of the
parents or guardian.
4. Parents of both perpetrator and victim are
called separately so that Class Adviser and
Guidance Counselor can discuss the facts of the
case with them.
5. During the said conference, the parents of the
perpetrator are advised that the case will be
deliberated on by the school authorities to come
up with a sanction that is formative for the
student.
6. The Guidance Counselor recommends
interventions to help both perpetrator and victim.
7. The Class Adviser and the Guidance Coordinator
(and in serious cases, it may include other
members of the CPC and the Administrative Team)
deliberate on the case and recommend a sanction
commensurate to the seriousness of the bullying
act.
8. The decision shall be in writing, signed by the
school head, stating the facts and the reasons for
the decision.
9. All bullying cases shall be treated with strict
confidentiality.
10. In case retaliation by the perpetrator happens,
this shall be treated as another bullying case and
will be investigated accordingly.
Grades 1 to 4:
During deliberation, school authorities discuss the
act of bullying done and its effect/s on the victim.
Depending on the gravity of the bullying, a
perpetrator may be given one of the following
GMRC grades: o Moderately Satisfactory o Needs
Improvement o Unsatisfactory
The Class Adviser together with the Guidance
Counselor arranges and facilitates a dialogue
between the perpetrator and the victim to give the
former the opportunity to ask for a formal apology
to the victim and to commit that this act will not
happen again (in front of the school authorities).
Perpetrator and victim are closely monitored by
the Class Adviser and Guidance Counselor for a
period of time. Interventions for the bully and the
victim are given by the Guidance Counselor with
the help of the Parents and Class Adviser and
whenever necessary, the Teacher-in-Charge. They
are given counseling sessions and are referred to
an expert for more guided/thorough intervention,
if needed.
Grades 5 to 6
During deliberation, school authorities discuss the
act of bullying done and its effect/s on the victim.
Depending on the gravity of the bullying, a
perpetrator may be given one of the following
GMRC grades and sanctions:
o Moderately Satisfactory with verbal warning
o Needs Improvement with formal warning
o Unsatisfactory with formal warning and
community service
o Unsatisfactory with formal warning, community
service and disciplinary probation status
o Unsatisfactory with dismissal The Class Adviser
together with the Guidance Counselor arranges
and facilitates a dialogue between the perpetrator
and the victim to give the former the opportunity
to ask for a formal apology to the victim and to
commit that this act will not happen again (in front
of the school authorities).
Perpetrator and victim are closely monitored by
the Class Adviser and Counselor for a period of
time. Interventions for the bully and the victim are
given by the Guidance Counselor with the help of
the Parents and Class Adviser and whenever
necessary, the Principal.
They are given counseling sessions and are
referred to an expert for more guided/thorough
intervention, if needed.
 Further, the school shall coordinate with
appropriate offices and other agencies or
instrumentalities for appropriate
assistance.
 If bullying incident or retaliation resulted
in serious physical injuries or death, the
Principal immediately reports this to law
 enforcement and the case shall be dealt
with in accordance to the provisions of the
law (RA 9344 Juvenile Justice and Welfare
Act)

FOR EMPLOYEES

Investigation and disciplinary sanctions for employees are stipulated in the Operations Manual, Section
11. Termination of Employment, Offenses and Sanctions. When necessary, the Principal shall report the
case to the law enforcement agency if she believes that criminal charges under the Revised Penal Code
may be pursued against the perpetrator (as stipulated in R.A. 10627).

G. Rehabilitation Interventions for Perpetrators and Victims of Bullying (c/o Guidance Department)

Activities - Duration Person- in

Charge
Self-Awareness 2 to 3 counseling Guidance
Objective: To develop awareness and acceptance of problem sessions Counselor
behavior/s and recognize the need to reform
Sensitivity Training 2 counseling Guidance
Objective: To develop or enhance capacity for empathy and to sessions Counselor
choose kind actions over hurtful ones
Self-Control and Anger Management Skills Training 2-3 sessions Guidance
Objective: To develop awareness of anger triggers and acquire skills Counselor
to effectively handle anger and ill feelings
Decision Making and Problem Solving Skills Development 2-3 sessions Guidance
Objective: To develop the skill of foresight; learn the concept of Counselor
personal and communal responsibility; acquire conflict resolution
skills
Restoring Relationships 1 session
Objective: To facilitate a dialogue between the bully and the victim
aimed at resolving conflict and agreeing on positive ways to solve
their problem.
Spiritual Counseling 1-2 sessions or
Objective: To help the offender see her experience from a spiritual overnight
perspective and set personal direction according to scriptural
teachings.
Community Service – a form of guided suspension intended to give to be decided by Class Adviser
the offender the opportunity to acknowledge publicly her offense the Person/sIn-
and to express her desire to be reunited with the community. The Charge
kind of community service will depend on the kind and gravity of the
offense. i.e., loss of privileges, compulsory works in the school
community.

FOR TARGET/VICTIM

Activities Duration Person-in

Charge
Self-Awareness 2-3 sessions Guidance
Objective: to develop awareness and acceptance of victim-prone Coor.
behaviors
Assertiveness and Empowerment Training Objective: to develop verbal 3-4 sessions Guidance
and non-verbal skills to express one’s feelings and concern in an Coor
assertive but non-aggressive manner. I-message, assertive stance,
assertive gaze; includes visualization, role-playing, situation analysis,
 getting help from peers and adults, decision-making
Restoring Relationships Objective: To facilitate a dialogue between the 1 session -do-
bully and the victim aimed at resolving conflict and agreeing on positive
ways to solve their problem

H. Whole School Program to Address bullying

ACTIVITY Persons Involved Timetable

Awareness Campaign for all Sectors  Administrative In -Service Training
Team Parent Partnership Program Parents’ First
 Parents General Assembly Homeroom Meeting
 Class Advisers Activities Craft and Implement
 Guidance Coor. Developmental Anti-Bullying Modules in
 SPG Homeroom (This will include training for
students in peer intervention as a preventive
approach) Guidance Department and Class
Advisers
Craft and Implement Guidance Coor. and May In-service and during the school year
Developmental Anti-Bullying Class Adviser
Modules in Homeroom (This will
include training for students in peer
intervention as a preventive
approach)

H. Whole School Program to Address Bullying

ACTIVITY Persons Involved Timetable

Awareness Campaign for

all Sectors Administrative Team In -Service Training
Parents Parent Partnership Program
Spg Parents’ First General
Class Advisers and Guidance Assembly
Councilor Homeroom Meeting
and Guidance Special Activity

Craft and Implement Developmental

Anti-Bullying Modules in Homeroom Guidance Department and Class In-service and during the school
(This will include training for students Advisers year
in peer intervention as a preventive
approach
Assessment of the School Climate
Guidance Counselors (c/o Guidance Department)

Assessment of Bullying and

Victimization Levels in the school Guidance Counselors (c/o Guidance Department)

Review and Revision of Student

Handbook and Operations Manual (to Administrative Team May In-service schedule
include more specific policies on Class Advisers
bullying Counselors
Representatives of the Faculty
and staff
 (Fight the Bullying Initiative): student SPG
leaders taking a stand against bullying During the school year

Conscious Integration of Bullying as a During the school year

Topic when applicable in certain Subject Teachers
subjects

Interventions for Perpetrators and As needed

Victims of Bullying Guidance Counselors and Class

Evaluation of the Whole School End of school year

Program Against bullying Administrative Team, Guidance
Coordinator

I. Reporting Requirement
1. As required by the Department of Education, the school shall notify the school division
superintendent in writing about the anti-bullying policies formulated within 6 months from the
effectivity of RA 10627.
2. The school shall also report to the Department, every first week of the start of the school year, all
pertinent data and statistics on acts of bullying or retaliation.

Prepared by:

BELEN D. MANIMOG

ESHT III
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION XI
Division of Davao del Sur
Matanao 1 District

BUAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

SCHOOL-BASED CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-

BULLYING PRACTICES

Submitted by:

BELEN D. MANIMOG

ESHT III