Magbag-o na ta Gang: An intervention on students engaged in street

gangs of Buso National High School

Theme: Child Protection Policy

Proponent:

Chris Vincent C. Damayo

Secondary School Teacher I
Buso National High School
DepEd, Division of Mati City
I. Context and Rationale

Many people assume that gangs are confined to urban areas and

schools with large concentrations of minority students [ CITATION Nat19 \l 1033

]. This belief makes Buso national High School educators complacent

that our students are far from the reach of gang influences in the city-

center schools.

In June 23, 2015, Christian Dela Cruz, 14-year old Grade 8

student of F. Halili National Agricultural School in Santa Maria, Bulacan

died after he underwent a gang initiation rite by the True Brown Style

(TBS). Two of the suspects involved were minors[ CITATION The15 \l 1033 ].

In February 9, 2018, John Ernest Rivera, Grade 11 student of San

Antonio National High School in Makati City was stabbed to death in

front of his school by five members of Youth Scorpion Fraternity (YSF).

Three of the five YSF members arrested were minors[ CITATION Cab18 \l 1033 ].

In a news report by SunStar Philippines, a Grade 9 teacher named

Vilma Cabactulan was stabbed to death in front of her class in Pedro

O’loy’ N. Roa High School in Cagayan de Oro City. The perpetrator was

her 15-year-old student (name withheld) who was later learned to be a

member of the gang “Bloods”[ CITATION Alw16 \l 1033 ].

One afternoon in July of this present School Year 2019-2020, the

usual peace and order in Buso National High School was interrupted
when two Army Officers turned over a student of our school who was

according to them was involved in a riot or gang war that transpired

during class hours. Upon the capture of the said student, more names of

Buso National High School rioters involved in the gang war against

another gang from another school were spilled. For the first time in many

years, the myth that gangs do not happen in barrio schools was instantly

disproved. Later, we have learned that these rioters possessed knives and

other sharp objects used as weapons.

In the 2009 country report of Child Friendly Schools (CFS) in the

Philippines by UNICEF, it was found out that there was a high level of

awareness about the importance of safety, security, psychosocial

wellbeing among stakeholders in schools. However, interview reports did

not reveal particular efforts or activities to develop positive social and

emotional skills of students [ CITATION Uni09 \l 1033 ].

Pursuant to the Department of Education Order No. 40 series of

2012 known as DepEd Child Protection Policy, The Convention on the

Rights of the Child (CRC) aims to protect children from all forms of

physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent

treatment, maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse. The

same Convention establishes the right of the child to education, and with

a view to achieving this right progressively, and on the basis of equal

opportunity, it obliges the government to take measures to encourage

regular attendance in school and reduce dropout rates. Thus, it is

mandated that all appropriate measures be undertaken to ensure that

school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child's

human dignity, and in conformity with the CRC (Department of

Education, 2012).

In order for us in Buso National High School to understand better

the root cause of such emergence of school gang in our campus and

implement better the DepEd Child Protection Policy as the students’

rights, safety and welfare are our paramount concern, this action

research was conceived and seeks to answer the following research

questions.

II. Action Research Questions

This study seeks to understand the following questions:

a. What factors influence the students’ decision to join/form a gang?

b. What are the interventions that the school implement and are they

effective?

c. How are the students after the intervention?

III. Proposed Innovation, Intervention, and Strategy

Students involved in gang activities in school will be subjected to

guidance and counseling. Guidance and counseling will not only involve

the school guidance coordinator but all teachers as well. Advisers will
have to intensify the 1-hour a week guidance period every first period of

every Monday. At this time, interventions can be carried out without

disrupting the regular classes of the students. For the teachers to be

equipped with the basics in handling juvenile students, they will undergo

a seminar-workshop from proper authorities such as licensed

psychometricians, registered guidance counselors, etc. Counseling

should also include the parents and guardians of the involved students

so that guidance starts at home and will be reinforced in school.

According to the James C. Howell (2010) youth join gangs for

protection, enjoyment, respect, money, or because a friend is in a gang.

To divert the attention of students from joining a gang, their interests

should be aligned to the available campus clubs and organizations that

will foster in them a sense of belongingness while enjoying club activities

that also enhances their talents and skills. If the student exhibits an

interest in computers, it would be appropriate to enlist him/her in the

school’s ICT Club. If the student shows kinesthetic or artistic potentials,

he/she could be endorsed to the Sports Club or MAPEH Club. Instead of

joining their peers in any gangs, they can be with their teachers and

friends in the campus clubs. It is by then the school student

organizations and advisers to also intensify their functions and come up

with a workplan to properly supervise the juvenile delinquents. Club

advisers will then work with the school guidance coordinator for follow

up and reporting of their progress. Once a month, club advisers and the
guidance coordinators will meet and discuss the progress of the

participants. Classroom advisers will also report to the guidance

coordinators the performance of their students regarding to their

classroom performance, attendance, and behavior. Remediation will also

be conducted to participants to reinforce their academic performance

once a week.

IV. Action Research Method

a. Participants and/or other Sources of Data and Information

First and foremost, approval from the school administrator will be

sought for full support to the conduct of the research. This study will

involve ten (10) of the students of Buso National High School who

admitted that they are members of the gang and were present during the

gang war that happened in July 2019. The ten students as number of

participants will be interviewed is suggested by Dukes (1984) as cited by

Creswell (2007). A written permission and consent will be signed by

students as well as their parents or guardians signifying their approval

that their children and they themselves will participate.

The entire undertaking shall be closely supervised and monitored

by the two school guidance coordinators to ensure that the rights and

wellbeing of minors participating in the study are considered at all times.

b. Data Gathering Methods

 This research will be a four-month journey for it is believed that it

would take a long time to intensify and develop practices and attitude.

Initially, participants will be chosen purposively to develop detailed

understanding to the research questions. Participants will also be

oriented on the mechanics and the purpose of the study and the

interview. Further, the ten students of Buso National High School will be

interviewed in an agreed schedule.

Qualitative research method will be used in conducting this study

with a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) as technique to gather data

from the participants. Information will be recorded and transcribed for

analysis.
V. Action Research Workplan and Timelines

RESEARCH WORK PLAN AND TIMELINESS

Year 2020
ACTIVITIES Month January February March April
Week 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Consent to Conduct Action Research to
students                                
Preparation of the Intervention Materials
                               
Data Gathering and Implementation of
Intervention                                
a. conduct of pre-intervention orientation                                
b. data gathering proper
                               
c. implementation of intervention
                               
d. conduct post-intervention phase                                
Data Analysis                                
Writing Results and Reflection                                
Finalizing the Completed Action Research
Paper                                
VI. Cost Estimates

QUANTIT
ITEM AND SPECIFICATION UNIT PRICE Y TOTAL
I. PREPARATORY PHASE        
A. DRAFTING A RESEARCH
PROPOSAL        
LOAD CARD (PREPAID WIFI)   1299 4 5196
COUPOND BOND (SHORT,
SUBSTANCE 20) REAM 275 5 1375
EPSON INK (CYAN, 70ML) BOTTLE 350 2 700
EPSON INK (MAGENTA, 70ML) BOTTLE 350 2 700
EPSON INK (YELLOW, 70ML) BOTTLE 350 2 700
EPSON INK (BLACK, 70ML) BOTTLE 350 5 1750
TRAVEL EXPENSES PESOS 20 10 200
USB FLASHDRIVE PCS 1000 1 1000
SUBTOTAL       11621
B. CREATING AND
SUBMITTING THE FINAL
RESEARCH PROPOSAL        
COUPOND BOND (SHORT,
SUBSTANCE 20) REAM 275 8 2200
EPSON INK (BLACK, 70ML) BOTTLE 350 15 5250
LOAD CARD CARD 1299 4 5196
STANDEE FOR TARP
(PRESENTATION) PCS 600 1 600
FUEL EXPENSES (TRAVEL) LITER 55 20 1100
SNACK (INTERVIEWED
PARTICIPANTS) PAX 250 10 2500
BOOK BINDING PCS 250 3 750
FLASHDRIVE PCS 800 1 800
SUBTOTAL       18396
TOTAL       30,017
VII. Plans for Dissemination and Utilization

The findings that will be drawn from this research will be

disseminated to the different stakeholders of Buso National High School

especially the school faculty and administration, and to the Parent-

Teacher Association for possible crafting of school policies regarding the

students and issue under study. Such results will also be communicated

with the local barangay council so that the community will also be

engaged in safeguarding the rights and safety of minors. After the

conduct of this research, a strengthened partnership with the Armed

Forces of the Philippines through the Infantry Battalion stationed nearby

the school to help secure the perimeters of the school and surrounding

communities from future gang wars or riots that could lead to injuries or

even death of those involved.

The researcher shall also seek to present this paper in research

colloquiums, forums, or any academic paper publication to further the

reach of the research output which could also contribute to the body of

knowledge concerning this topic.

VIII. References

Cabalza, D. (2018, February 15). Five teens in killing of Grade 11 student

in Makati nabbed. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November
21, 2019, from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/968947/breaking-
news-makati-youth-scorpion-fraternity-ysf-john-ernest-rivera-
stabbing-minors
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design.
Howell, J. C. (2010). Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and
Programs . Juvenile Justice Bulletin.
National Center for Education Statistics. (1995, July). Gangs and
Victimization at School. Retrieved November 19, 2019, from
https://nces.ed.gov/pubs/web/95740.asp
Saliring, A. (2016, September 15). Teacher’s killer found negative of 'drug
use'. SunStar Philippines. Retrieved November 21, 2019, from
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/98436
The Manila Times. (2015, June 26). 14-year-old dead from hazing. The
Manila Times. Retrieved November 21, 2019, from
https://www.manilatimes.net/2015/06/26/news/regions/14-
year-old-dead-from-hazing/195385/195385/
United Nations Children’s Fund. (2009). CHILD FRIENDLY SCHOOLS
EVALUATION: Country Report for Philippines. New York City:
UNICEF.