Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region XII--Division of Cotabato
VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL
Midsayap, Cotabato

VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL

CHILD PROTECTION AND
ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES
SY 2020-2021
(revised edition in the context of Pandemic time)
VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021
 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES

SY 2020-2021

Villarica High School shall adopt policies to address the existence of bullying in
its respective jurisdiction/institution. The school deems it’s necessary that such policies
shall be regularly updated, and, at minimum, shall include provisions on prohibited acts,
prevention and interventions programs, mechanism and procedures.

I. PROHIBITED ACTS

The Child Protection and Anti-Bullying Policy of Villarica High School shall
prohibit:

1. Bullying at the following:

a. School Grounds;
b. Property immediately adjacent to school grounds;
c. School sponsored or school-related activities, functions or programs
whether on or off school grounds;
2. Being unfriendly including tormenting (i.e. hiding of one’s belonging, books,
threatening gestures)
3. Any act of violence (i.e. pushing, kicking, hitting, punching, etc.)
4. Taunting in any form.
5. Sexual advancements and abusive comments.
6. Name-calling, sarcasm, teasing or spreading of rumors.
7. Bullying/Harassment through the Use of Technology or an Electronic
Device or other forms of media (also known as Cyber-bullying)
7.1. Posting of derogatory remarks toward other student or group of
students.
7.2. Sending abusive or offensive messages to other student or group
of students.
7.3. “Outing” the victim/s thru publicly sharing of private messages,
pictures, or other information about the victim on the internet.
This is done without the victim’s knowledge or consent and is
meant to embarrass, shame, or humiliate them.
7.4. Using/hacking of social media accounts to make fraudulent
representation of the victim/s. This also includes “Fraping”, the
act of logging in to someone’s social media profile and posting
inappropriate content under the victim’s name.
7.5. Online blackmailing/threatening of the victim/s to release
sensitive information, private photographs usually of a sexual
nature, or other information. Usually, nude pictures or videos of
such nature are the tools used to blackmail people online.
7.6. And other online abuses toward other student/s by another
student/s those are similar in context but not limited to the above-
mentioned technology and internet abuses.
8. Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information
during the investigation of bullying or who is a witness to or has reliable
information about bullying.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS

CHILD ABUSE AND BULLYING

Villarica High School shall adopt child abuse and bullying prevention programs.
These programs shall be applicable to all students regardless of level of risks or
vulnerability. Said programs shall also be comprehensive, multi-faceted and shall
involve all education stakeholders and personnel. The programs may contain, among
others:
1. School wide initiative centered on:
a. Positive school climate and environment conducive to the attainment of
learning objectives, the development of healthy relationships, and the
understanding of and respect of individual differences;
b. Periodic assessment and monitoring of the nature, extent, and perceptions
of child abuse and bullying behavior and attitudes of students;
c. Periodic review and enhancement of the students and personnel’s manual
and code of conduct in relation to child abuse and bullying;
d. Conduct of activities for students, school personnel and service providers
on how to recognize and respond to cases of child abuse and bullying;
e. Continuing personnel development to sustain child abuse and bullying
prevention programs; and,
f. Coordination with local government units, barangay (barangay council for
the protection of children) and other stakeholders.
2. Classroom level initiatives that focus on:
a. Reinforcing school wide rules pertaining to any forms of child abuse and
bullying;
b. Building a positive sense of self and interpersonal relationship through the
development of self-awareness and self-management, interpersonal skills
and empathy, and responsible decision-making and problem solving.
c. Discussion of issues related to child abuse and bullying; and strategies
corresponding to and reporting of incidence of child abuse and bullying;
d. Teaching positive on-line behavior and safety and how to recognize and
report child abuse and cyber bullying;
e. Providing an inclusive and caring-learning environment for students.
3. Involving parents in Child Protection and Bullying Prevention activities such
as:
a. Discussion of the Child Protection and Anti-Bullying Policy of the school
during Parents – Teachers Association meeting and seminars; or via
online platforms especially in this pandemic time
b. Conducting or sponsoring education online or face to face sessions for
parents to learn, teach, model and reinforce positive social and emotional
skills to their children.
4. Monitoring students who are vulnerable to committing acts or who are
perpetrators of bullying, or who are possible targets/victims of child abuse and
bullying, for the purpose of early intervention. This activity shall be conducted
with utmost confidentiality and respect for all parties concerned.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

There shall be intervention programs to promote the continuity of the

comprehensive Child Protection and Anti-Bullying policies. Intervention refers to a
series of activities design which are designed to address the following:

a. Issues that influence the student to commit bullying;

b. Factors that make a student a target of bullying; and,
c. Effects of bullying.

Interventions may include programs such as counseling (cybercounseling), life

skills training, Psycho-educational and group dynamic activities that will enhance the
psychological, emotional and psycho-social well-being of both the victim and the bully.
Such programs may:

a. Involve activities that will address acts of bullying;

b. Emphasize formative and corrective measures rather than punishment;
c. Conform to principles of child protection and positive and non-violent disciple;
d. Help the victim, the bully, and the bystanders understand the bullying incident
and its negative consequences; and,
e. Provide opportunities to practice pro-social behavior.

Villarica High School developed prevention and intervention strategies involving

all parties (the bullies, victims, bystanders, parents, school personnel, service providers,
and all other persons who may be affected by the child abuse and bullying incident/s.
These include the following:

1. Student/parent should report any incidence of bullying (cyberbullying) to the

School Child Protection Committee.
2. The committee will investigate to ensure the veracity of the report for proper
action.
3. Once proven that the report is authentic, the committee will call the parents of
both parties and involve them in looking for the solution of the problem.
4. The committee will keep records of the investigation, promises or
agreement/s of both parties.
5. Both parties will be subject to appropriate interventions such as but not limited
to guidance and counseling.
6. Both parties should agree that there will be no further occurrence of bullying
and retaliation in any manner.
7. The intervention given will be monitored to determine if it is appropriate or
another intervention should be given. Result of the monitoring and evaluation
should be given to both parents for decision making especially if the given
intervention will be observed not so effective.
8. If there is no significant change in the behavior of the bully (the bully
continuously bully the same or other students), parents will be called again
and by this time the committee and the parent would make a written
agreement of the possible legal sanction to be given to the student if ever he
will continue showing bullying behavior to anybody inside and outside the
school premises. In serious cases, suspension or even expulsion will be
considered. By this time, counseling will be intensified to address the
misbehavior.
9. Class advisers should stay in their room during lunch time to monitor his/her
students.
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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

10. Alternately, teachers should be assigned to stay in the gate before and after
the morning and afternoon session.
11. Conduct activities which will educate students and parents on bullying
policies.
12. Institutionalize Peace Education in the curriculum.

In addition with the afore-mentioned prevention and intervention strategies,

in the context of the pandemic time, the following shall also be enforced.
13. Class advisers/ teachers monitor or “police” the social media posts of
their students. In cases where cyberbullying, suicidal ideations, child
abuse may be evident, class advisers/ teachers shall call out the
attention of the student/s involved in a private chat conversation or
invite the student/s to come to school for proper investigations.
14. The VHS shall conduct online primers/discussions on parenting,
cyberbullying, mental health, suicide and other relevant topics that will
promote child safety and wellness.
15. The VHS teachers shall refer students with cybercounseling needs to
the proper authorities (school Guidance Counselor/designated, DSWD,
and the like).

__________________________________________________________________
MECHANISMS AND PROCEDURES IN
HANDLING BULLYING INCIDENTS IN SCHOOL

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Villarica High School through its ADMINISTRATOR shall:

a. Adopt and implement a child – protection or anti-bullying policy in accordance

with this IRR and submit the same to the Division Office. The anti-bullying
policy maybe a part of a school’s child protection policy;
b. Provide students and their parents and guardians a copy of the Child
Protection or Anti-Bullying Policy adopted by the school. Such policy shall
likewise be included in the school, students and/or employee handbook and
shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls and website, if there is any;
c. Educate students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the
school as well as the mechanisms for the anonymous reporting of acts of
bullying or retaliation;
d. Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the child
protection or anti-bullying policy of the school and how parents and guardians
can provide support and reinforce the said policy at home;
e. Device prevention, intervention, protective and remedial measures to address
bullying;
f. Conduct the capacity building activities for guidance counselor/teachers and
the members of the child protection committee;
g. Ensure effective implementation of the anti-bullying policy and monitor
compliance therewith;
h. Ensure of the safety of the victim of bullying, the bully, and the bystander, and
determine the student’s needs for protection;
i. Ensure that the rights of the victim, the bully, and the bystander are protected
and upheld during the conduct of the investigation;

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

j. Accomplish the Intake Sheet prescribed, whenever there is an incident of

bullying, maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying and submit
reports prescribed in annex A of DepEd Order No. 40 series of 2012, to the
Division Office.
k. Maintain a public record or statistics of incidence of bullying and retaliation;
l. Coordinate with appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for
appropriate assistance and intervention as required by the circumstances.

The school principal or any person who holds a comparable role shall be
responsible for the implementation and oversight for the protection and anti-bullying
policy.

TEACHERS and other school personnel shall:

a. Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures

related to bullying implemented by the school;
b. Educate/remind students of the policies on child protection and anti-bullying.
c. Provide guidance and counseling program if necessary.
d. Call parents of students with bullying behaviors.
e. Report to the Child Protection Committee and school authorities any incident
of bullying; and
f. Perform the duties as specified in this IRR.

The PARENTS shall:

1. Report to the Child Protection Committee any form of bullying experienced by

their child or observed done by other students.
2. Monitor the behavior of their children. Forge a strong bond with their children.

The STUDENTS shall:

a. Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures

related to bullying implemented by the school;
b. Follow the child protection policy religiously. Be a friend to everyone.
c. Avoid or refrain from any act of bullying;
d. Intervene to protect the victim, unless it will jeopardize his safety and security;
and
e. Report to school authorities any incident of bullying.

CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE AS ANTI-BULLYING COMMITTEE

For the implementation of this IRR, the Child Protection Committees (CPC)
established by DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012, shall also be the committee that will
handle bullying cases in the school. The committee, as provided in DepEd Order No.
40, series of 2012, shall be composed of the following:

1. School Head/Administrator – Chairperson

2. Guidance Counselor/Teacher-Vice-Chairperson
3. Representative of the Teachers as designated by the Faculty Club
4. Representative of the parents as designated by the Parents-Teachers
Association
5. Representative of students as designated by the Supreme Student Council; and
6. Representative by the community as designated by the Punong Barangay,
preferably a member of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children
(BCPC)
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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

The CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE shall perform the following tasks:

1. Supports the school head to ensure that bullying of any sort is eliminated inside
and outside the school premises.
2. Look for possible resources to provide technical help to teachers and the
committee members on the prevention of bullying and protection of every
student.
3. Ensure that appropriate measures will be to educate the students, parents and
teachers of the anti-bullying and child protection policy and the anonymous
reporting of any incidence of bullying and retaliation.
4. Implement the policies on child protection and anti-bullying in accordance with
the law.
5. Implement prevention, intervention, and protective measures to address bullying.
6. Monitor and evaluate the policies and student’s compliance for decision making.
7. Ensure the safety of both the victim and the bully.
8. Ensure the rights of the victim, the witnesses, and the bully are upheld and
protected during investigation.
9. Maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying and submit reports to the
Division Office.
10. Coordinate with proper offices and/or agencies for appropriated assistance and
interventions as required by circumstances.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION & ANTI-BULLYING COMMITTEE

NAME POSITION MOBILE NO. E-MAIL ADDRESS

PEDERIO, Chairperson 09673957609 luzviminda.pederio@depe

LUZVIMINDA A d.gov.ph

TAYONG, JANET Vice-Chairperson 09456829317 janet.tayong001@deped.g

D. ov.ph

LABIO, DESIREE Designated Guidance 09467058661 vhsguidancecounselorako

O. Counselor @gmail.com

ORONGAN, Faculty Club President 09482923038 minda.orongan@deped.g

MINDA S. ov.ph

EBO, SANTIAGO PTA President 09499228805 None

ARABI, RASHIMA SSG President 09067676048 None

BLGU/ Education None

PARAON, REYSIE Committee Chairman
JOEY L.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

PROCEDURES IN HANDLING BULLYING INCIDENCE IN SCHOOL

___________________________________________________________________

A. Jurisdiction

Complaints of bullying and other acts under this IRR shall be within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Department, and shall not be brought for amicable
settlement before the Barangay subject for existing laws, rules and regulations.
Complaints or acts covered by other laws shall be referred to the appropriate
authorities.

B. Procedures

Consistent with section 3 and 4 of the Act, Villarica High School shall adopt
procedures that include:

a. Immediate responses
1. The victim or anyone who witnesses or has personal knowledge of a
bullying incident or retaliation shall immediately call the attention of any
school personnel. (It may be done via text, phone call or online chat).
2. The school personnel who was notified of a bullying incident or retaliation
shall intervene, by:
i. Stopping the bullying or retaliation immediately
ii. Separating the students involved;
iii. Removing the victims or, in appropriate cases, the bully or
offending student from the site
iv. Ensuring the victim’s safety, by determining and addressing the
victim’s immediate safety needs; and ensuring medical attention, if
needed, and securing a medical certificate in cases of physical
injury bringing the bully to the guidance office or the designated
school personnel
v. Calling out the offending party via private message.

C. Reporting the Bullying Incident Or Retaliation

1. A victim or a bystander, or a school personnel who receives information of a

bullying incident or retaliation or any person, who witnesses or has personal
knowledge of any, incidence of bullying or retaliation, shall report the same to
the teacher, guidance coordinator or counselor or any person designated to
handle bullying incidence.
2. The bullying incidence or retaliation shall be immediately reported to the
school head. The designated school personnel shall fill the Intake Sheet as
provided in DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012. The school head or the
designated school personnel shall inform the parents or guardian of the victim
and the bully about the incidence.
3. If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students from more than one
school, the school that was first informed of the bullying or retaliation shall
promptly notify the appropriate administrator or school head of the other
school so that both schools may take appropriate actions.
4. Reports of incidence of bullying or retaliation initiated by parents who prefer
anonymity shall be entertained, and the person who reported the incident
shall be afforded protection from possible retaliation; provided, however, that
no disciplinary administrative action shall be taken an alleged bully or
offending student solely on the basis of an anonymous report and without any
other evidence.

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D. Fact-Finding And Documentation

The school administrator, principal or school head, or guidance

counselor/teacher, or school personnel designated to handle bullying incidence
shall:

1. Separately interview in private the bully or offending student and the victim.
2. Determine the levels of threats and develop intervention strategies. If the
bullying incident or retaliation or the situation that requires immediate
attention or intervention, or the level of threat is high, appropriate action shall
be taken by the school within 24 hours from the time of the incident.
3. Inform the victim and the parents or guardian of the steps to be taken to
prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation, and
4. Make appropriate recommendations to the Child Protection Committee on
proper interventions, referrals and monitoring.

Due to pandemic health protocols, investigation may be conducted via

online, text or phone calls. However, depending on the severity of the
case, both parties may be called for a face to face investigation.

E. Intervention

The CPC shall determine the appropriate intervention programs for the
victim, the bully and bystanders. The school head shall ensure that these are
provided to them.

F. Referral

The school head or the Child Protection Committee may refer the victims and
the bully to trained professionals outside the school, such as social workers,
guidance counselors, psychologists, or Child Protection Specialists, for further
assessment and appropriate intervention measures, as may be necessary. The
school head or the designated school personnel shall notify Women and Children’s
Protection’s Desk (WPCD) of the local Philippine National Police, if he believes that
appropriate criminal charges may be pursued against the bully or offending student.

G. Disciplinary Measures

Villarica High School shall include in the school’s child protection or anti-
bullying policy a range of disciplinary administrative actions that may be taken
against the perpetrator of bullying or retaliation.

Bullying incidence or retaliation shall be treated according to their nature,

gravity or severity and attendant circumstances.

1. The school head, considering the nature, gravity and severity, previous
incidents of bullying or retaliation and attendant circumstances, may
impose reasonable disciplinary measures on the bully or offending
students that is appropriate to the act committed.
2. Written reprimand, community service, suspension, inclusion or
expulsion, in accordance with existing rules and regulations of the
school or of the Department for the public schools, may be imposed, if
the circumstances warrant the imposition of such penalty, provided that
the requirements of due process are complied with.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

3. In addition to disciplinary sanction, the bully shall also be required to

undergo an intervention program which shall be administered or
supervised by the school’s Child Protection Committee. The parents of
the bully shall be encouraged to join the intervention program.

H. Due Process

In all cases where a penalty is imposed on the bully or offending student, the
following minimum requirements of due process shall be complied with:

a. The students and the parents or guardians shall be informed of

the complaint in writing;
b. The student shall be given the opportunity to answer the
complaint in writing, with the assistance of parents or guardian;
c. The decision of the school head shall be in writing stating the
facts and the reasons for the decisions; and
d. The decision of the school head may be appealed to the
Division Office, as provided in existing rules of the Department.

I. Applicability of RA 9344, as amended, and other Related Laws

If the bullying incident or retaliation resulted in serious physical injuries or

death, the case shall be dealt in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 9344 or
the “Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act”, as amended, and its Implementing Rules
And Regulations, in connection with other applicable laws, as may be warranted
by the circumstances attendant to the bullying incident.

J. False Accusation of Bullying

If the student, after an investigation, is found to have knowingly made a

false accusation of bullying, the said student shall be subject to disciplinary
actions or to appropriate interventions in accordance with the existing rules and
regulations of the Department.

SECTION XII CONFIDENTIALITY

Any information relating to the identity and personal circumstances of the

bully, victim, or bystander shall be treated with utmost confidentiality by the Child
Protection Committee and the school personnel, provided, that the names may
only be available to the school head or administrator, teacher or guidance
counselor designated by the school head, and parents and guardians of the
students who are or have been victims of bullying or retaliation.

Any school personnel who commit a breach of confidentiality shall be

subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the existing rules
and regulations of the Department of Education, without prejudice to any civil or
criminal action.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Villarica High School under the Department of Education shall include in

its training programs activities which shall provide opportunities for school
administrators, teachers and other employees to develop their knowledge and
skills in preventing or responding to incidents of bullying or retaliation.

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 VILLARICA HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES SY: 2020-2021

REPORTING REQUIREMENT

Villarica High School shall submit a copy of its Child Protection or Anti-
Bullying Policy within six (6) months from the effectivity of this IRR. It shall also
submit to the Division Office within the first week of each school year a report on
relevant information and statistics on bullying and retaliation from the preceding
school year.

In addition to the requirements for an application for a permit to operate

and/or recognition as prescribed by the existing rules of the Department shall
submit a Child Protection or Anti-Bullying Policy to the Regional Director.

Prepared by:

DESIREE O. LABIO, T-1

Guidance Counselor

Noted by:

JANET D. TAYONG, P-1

Assistant Principal for Academics in Senior High School

Approved by:

LUZVIMINDA A. PEDERIO, P-1

School Principal