ILOILO City – The Department of Education (DepEd) in Western Visayas recorded 966 bullying incidents during School Year 2025-2026, with 95 percent already resolved, but officials vowed to intensify interventions as nearly a hundred cases — mostly in Guimaras — remain under close monitoring.
The latest data underscore that bullying continues to be a significant challenge in schools despite existing child protection mechanisms, prompting DepEd Region 6 to strengthen prevention programs, counseling services, and learner protection initiatives across the region.
Leonerico Barredo, Chief Education Supervisor of the Education Support Services Division (ESS) of DepEd-6, said 867 of the 966 reported cases have been resolved, while 99 cases remain under monitoring.
Only Guimaras still has unresolved cases, with all 99 pending incidents coming from the island province.
Under Republic Act No. 10627, or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, bullying includes physical, emotional, verbal, cyber, social, and gender-based forms.
According to DepEd-6, physical bullying remains the most commonly reported type, while cyberbullying has emerged as the second most prevalent, driven by the increasing use of social media among students.
“These contribute significantly to emotional distress, physical harm, and mental health challenges for students,” Barredo said.
The regional breakdown of reported bullying incidents showed: Iloilo City – 452 cases (452 resolved); Guimaras – 213 cases (114 resolved; 99 under monitoring); Iloilo Province – 96 cases (96 resolved); Capiz – 89 cases (89 resolved); Antique – 76 cases (76 resolved); Roxas City – 30 cases (30 resolved); Passi City – 8 cases (8 resolved); Aklan – 2 cases (2 resolved).
“Based on the data we have gathered from our Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) focal persons, 95% of the issues have been resolved in our schools. We also launched the WeCare Program, which is founded on the belief that a safe and empathetic learning environment is essential for a learner’s success,” Barredo said.
This program recognizes that any violations or deprivation of learner rights not only hinder academic performance but also harm a child’s mental health, social relationships, and self-worth, he explained.
Barredo also emphasized that schools are required not only to report bullying incidents but also to submit intervention plans to ensure cases are properly addressed.
“And we endorse that to the Central Office, which has an LRP division under the Bureau of Learning Support Services. They send us feedback,” he added. “Our LRPs are continuously undergoing capacity-building activities related to child protection mechanisms. Any updates from the Central Office are cascaded to them.”
DepEd-6 continues to implement interventions through its LRP advocates, composed of trained guidance counselors, teachers, and school administrators tasked with enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against bullying, abuse, and discrimination while promoting safe, child-friendly, and gender-sensitive learning environments.
Barredo said the high resolution rate reflects the effectiveness of schools’ counseling programs and intervention strategies but stressed that efforts to prevent bullying must continue through sustained cooperation among educators, parents, and communities.
DepEd-6 director Dr. Cristito Eco urged students experiencing bullying or other personal difficulties to seek help from trusted adults.
Open communication can provide emotional support and practical guidance, he explained./PN
