Republic of the Philippines

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region I
PANGASINAN DIVISION II
Binalonan, Pangasinan
BAUTISTA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Bautista, Pangasinan

School-Based
Child Protection
and Anti-Bullying
Policies
School Year 2021-2022

DEPED ORDER NO. 40 S. 2012

Bautista National High School as a child-friendly school reiterates zero tolerance policy for any
act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse and
hereby adopts the following policy.

DEPED ORDER NO. 40, S. 2012

“POLICY AND GUIDELINES ON PROTECTING CHILDREN IN SCHOOL FROM ABUSE,
VIOLENCE, EXPLOITATION, DICRIMINATION, BULLYING AND OTHER FORMS OF
ABUSE”

I. RATIONALE
Pursuant to DepEd order No. 40, s. 2012 and DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2013, Bautista National
High School shall adopt its Child Protection Policy including therein policies on anti-bullying
and the establishment of Child Protection Committee. The school completely recognizes its
responsibility in insuring the protection of its clienteles from all forms of abuse, bullying,
discrimination and exploitation.

II. LEGAL BASIS

DepEd Child Protection Policy
The policy aims to protect the child from all forms of violence that may be inflicted by
adults, person in authority as well as their fellow students, including bullying.
To provide special protection to children who are gravely threatened or endangered by
circumstances which affect their normal development and over which they have no control, and
to assist the concerned agencies in their rehabilitation.
To ensure that such special protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation and care as in
necessary for the child’s well-being, taking into account the primary rights and duties of parents,
legal guardians, or other individuals who are legally responsible and exercise custody over the
child.
Zero tolerance for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and
other forms of abuse.
The policy guidelines have listed down the specific acts that constitute child abuse and
violence which public and private schools’ cases used as guide in addressing this social problem.

Section 3(2) Article XV of the 1987 Constitution

 The state shall defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and
nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and
other conditions prejudicial to their development.

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.

House Bill No. 5496 “Anti-Bullying Act of 2012”

Approved in the Senate and House of Representatives on June 7, 2013
 It impowers the DepEd to penalize schools that do not stop bullying or
sanction bullies.
 Authorize schools to impose sanctions on the student bullies.
All elementary and high schools would require to adopt anti-bullying policies and
sanctions, which would apply to prohibited acts committed within their campuses at
 school sponsored activities, whether done on or off school grounds, school bus stops,
school buses, or other properties own or lease by the school.
 A bully would require to undergo rehabilitation by the school, together
with his or her parents.
 Schools would maintain a public record of bullies and their offenses.
 The bill mandates the Secretary of education to issue the implementing
rules and regulations.
Authors: Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, Antonio Trillanes IV, Meriam Santiago.
House of Representatives: the late Salvador Escudero III, Mitzi Cajayon, 3 party-list reps.

III. DEFINITION OF TERMS (Adopted from Sec 4 of DepEd Order

No. 40, series of 2012)

A. “Child” – refers to any person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable
to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation
or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition; (RA 7610). For
purposes of this Department Order, the term also includes pupils or students who may be
eighteen (18) years of age or older but are in school.

B. “Children in School” – refers to bona fide pupils, students or learners who are enrolled in the
basic education system, whether regular, irregular, transferee or repeater, including those who
have been temporarily out of school, who are in the school or learning centers premises or
participating in school-sanctioned activities.

C. “Pupil, Student or Learner” – means a child who regularly attends classes in any level of
the basic education system, under the supervision and tutelage of a teacher or facilitator.

D. “School Personnel” – means the persons, singly or collectively, working in a public or

private school. They are classified as follows:

a. “School Head” refers to the chief executive officer or administrator of a public or private

school or learning center.

b. “Other School Officials” include other school officers, including teachers, who are
occupying supervisory positions or positions of responsibility, and are involved in policy
formulation or implementation in a school.

c. “Academic Personnel” includes all school personnel who are formally engaged in actual
teaching service or in research assignments, either on a full-time or a part-time basis, as well as
those who possess certain prescribed academic functions directly supportive of teaching, such as
registrars, librarians, guidance counselors, researchers, and other similar persons. They may
include school officials who are responsible for academic matters, and other school officials.

d. “Other Personnel” includes all other non-academic personnel in the school, whatever may be
the nature of their appointment and status of employment.

E. “Child Protection” – refers to programs, services, procedures and structures that are intended
to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and violence.

F. “Parents” – refers to biological parents, step-parents, adoptive parents and the common-law
spouse or partner of the parent;
G. “Guardians or Custodians” – refers to legal guardians, foster parents, and other persons,
including relatives or even non-relatives, who have physical custody of the child.

H. “School Visitor or Guest” – refers to any person who visits the school and has any official
business with the school, and any person who does not have any official business but is found
within the premises of the school. This may include those who are within the school premises for
certain reasons, e.g. student teachers, catechists, service providers, suppliers, bidders, parents and
guardians of other children.

I. “Child Abuse” – refers to the maltreatment of a child, whether habitual or not, which includes
any of the following:

1) psychological or physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

2) any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity
of a child as a human being;

3) unreasonable deprivation of the child’s basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; or

4) failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious

impairment of his or her growth and development or in the child’s permanent incapacity or death
(Sec. 3 [b], RA 7610).

J. “Discrimination against children” – refers to an act of exclusion, distinction, restriction or

preference which is based on any ground such as age, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation and
gender identity, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,
birth, being infected or affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), being pregnant, being a child in conflict with the law, being a
child with disability or other status or condition, and which has the purpose or effect of
nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by all persons, on an equal
footing, of all rights and freedoms.

K. “Child exploitation” – refers to the use of children for someone else’s advantage,
gratification or profit often resulting in an unjust, cruel and harmful treatment of the child. These
activities disrupt the child’s normal physical or mental health, education, moral or social
emotional development. It covers situations of manipulation, misuse, abuse, victimization,
oppression or ill-treatment.

There are two (2) main forms of child exploitation that are recognized:

1) Sexual exploitation – refers to the abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or

trust, for sexual purposes. It includes, but it is not limited to forcing a child to participate in
prostitution or the production of pornographic materials, as a result of being subjected to a threat,
deception, coercion, abduction, force, abuse of authority, debt bondage, fraud or through abuse
of a victim’s vulnerability.

2) Economic exploitation – refers to the use of the child in work or other activities for the
benefit of others. Economic exploitation involves a certain gain or profit through the production,
distribution and consumption of goods and services. This includes, but is not limited to, illegal
child labor, as defined in RA 9231.

L. “Violence against children committed in schools” – refers to a single act or a series of acts
committed by school administrators, academic and non-academic personnel against a child,
which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or other
abuses including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary
deprivation of liberty. It includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

1) Physical violence refers to acts that inflict bodily or physical harm. It includes assigning
children to perform tasks which are hazardous to their physical well-being.

2) Sexual violence refers to acts that are sexual in nature. It includes, but is not limited to:

a) rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, making demeaning and sexually suggestive
remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the victim’s body;

b) forcing the child to watch obscene publications and indecent shows or forcing the child to do
indecent sexual acts and/or to engage or be involved in, the creation or distribution of such films,
indecent publication or material; and

c) acts causing or attempting to cause the child to engage in any sexual activity by force, threat
of force, physical or other harm or threat of physical or other harm or coercion, or through
inducements, gifts or favors.

3) Psychological violence refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or

emotional suffering of the child, such as but not limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking,
damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, deduction or threat of deduction from grade
or merit as a form of punishment, and repeated verbal abuse.

4) Other acts of violence of a physical, sexual or psychological nature that are prejudicial to the
best interest of the child.

M. “Bullying or Peer Abuse” – refers to willful aggressive behavior that is directed, towards a
particular victim who may be out-numbered, younger, weak, with disability, less confident, or
otherwise vulnerable. More particularly:

1) Bullying – is committed when a student commits an act or a series of acts directed towards
another student, or a series of single acts directed towards several students in a school setting or a
place of learning, which results in physical and mental abuse, harassment, intimidation, or
humiliation. Such acts may consist of any one or more of the following:

a. Threats to inflict a wrong upon the person, honor or property of the person or on his or her
family;

b. Stalking or constantly following or pursuing a person in his or her daily activities, with
unwanted and obsessive attention;

c. Taking of property;

d. public humiliation, or public and malicious imputation of a crime or of a vice or defect,

whether real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to
cause dishonor, discredit or expose a person to contempt;

e. Deliberate destruction or defacement of, or damage to the child’s property;

f. Physical violence committed upon a student, which may or may not result to harm or injury,
with or without the aid of a weapon. Such violence may be in the form of mauling, hitting,
punching, kicking, throwing things at the student, pinching, spanking, or other similar acts;

g. Demanding or requiring sexual or monetary favors, or exacting money or property, from a

pupil or student; and

h. Restraining the liberty and freedom of a pupil or student.

1) Cyber-bullying – is any conduct defined in the preceding paragraph, as resulting in

harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, through electronic means or other technology, such as,
but not limited to texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, internet, social networking websites
or other platforms or formats.

N. “Other acts of abuse by a pupil, student or learner”– refers to other serious acts of abuse
committed by a pupil, student or learner upon another pupil, student or learner of the same
school, not falling under the definition of ‘bullying’ in the preceding provisions, including but
not limited to acts of a physical, sexual or psychological nature.

O. “Corporal Punishment” – refers to a kind of punishment or penalty imposed for an alleged

or actual offense, which is carried out or inflicted, for the purpose of discipline, training or
control, by a teacher, school administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been given or has
assumed authority or responsibility for punishment or discipline. It includes physical,
humiliating or degrading punishment, including, but not limited to the following:

1) Blows such as, but not limited to, beating, kicking, hitting, slapping, or lashing, of any part of
a child’s body, with or without the use of an instrument such as, but not limited to a cane, broom,
stick, whip or belt;

2) Striking of a child’s face or head, such being declared as a “no contact zone”;

3) Pulling hair, shaking, twisting joints, cutting or piercing skin, dragging, pushing or throwing
of a child;

4) Forcing a child to perform physically painful or damaging acts such as, but not limited to,
holding a weight or weights for an extended period and kneeling on stones, salt, pebbles or other
objects;

5) Deprivation of a child’s physical needs as a form of punishment;

6) Deliberate exposure to fire, ice, water, smoke, sunlight, rain, pepper, alcohol, or forcing the
child to swallow substances, dangerous chemicals, and other materials that can cause discomfort
or threaten the child’s health, safety and sense of security such as, but not limited to bleach or
insecticides, excrement or urine;

7) Tying up a child;

8) Confinement, imprisonment or depriving the liberty of a child;

9) Verbal abuse or assaults, including intimidation or threat of bodily harm, swearing or cursing,
ridiculing or denigrating the child;
10) Forcing a child to wear a sign, to undress or disrobe, or to put on anything that will make a
child look or feel foolish, which belittles or humiliates the child in front of others;

11) Permanent confiscation of personal property of pupils, students or learners, except when
such pieces of property pose a danger to the child or to others; and

12) Other analogous acts.

IV. PROCEDURES IN HANDLING BULLYING INCIDENTS IN

SCHOOLS
 It shall be acted upon by the School Head who shall inform the parents or guardians of
the victim and offending child;
 The incident will be referred to the Child Protection Committee for counselling and other
intervention.
 If warranted, penalties may be imposed by the School Head.
Penalties:
1st Offense – reprimand
2nd Offense – subsequent time suspension for not more than one (1) week (this after the
offending child has received counseling or other interventions)

Note: During the period of suspension, the offending child and the parents or guardian may
be required to attend further seminars and counseling.
In all cases where the imposable penalty on the offending child is suspension, exclusion
or expulsion, the following minimum requirements of due process shall be complied with:
1. The Child and parents or guardian must be informed of the complaint writing;
2. The child shall be given the opportunity to answer the complaint in writing, with the
assistance of the parents or guardians;
3. The decision of the school head must be writing, stating the facts and reasons for the
decision;
4. The decision of the school head may be appealed as provided in existing rules of the
Department.

If bullying or peer abuse resulted in serious physical injuries or death, whenever appropriate,
the case shall be dealt with in accordance with the provision of Republic Act No. 7610 and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Depending on the gravity of the bullying committed by any pupil, student or learner, the
school may impose other non-disciplinary measures.

V. POSITIVE AND NON-VIOLENT DISCIPLINE OF CHILDREN

It is a way of thinking and a holistic, constructive and pro-active approach to teaching that helps
children develop appropriate thinking and behavior in the short and long-term and fosters self-
discipline. It is based on the fundamental principle that children are full human beings with basic
human rights. Positive discipline begins with setting the long-term goals or impacts that teachers
want to have on their students’ adult lives, and using everyday situations and challenges as
opportunities to teach life-long skills and values to students.

VI. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SCHOOL
The school head shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
 ensure the institution of effective child protection policies and procedures, and monitor
compliance thereof;
 ensure that the school adopts a child protection policy;
 organize and convene the Child Protection Committee of the school;
 ensure that all students or learners, school personnel, parents, guardians or custodians,
and visitors and guests are made aware of Child Protection Policy;
 conduct capacity building activities for the members of the Child Protection Committee;
 conduct disciplinary proceedings;
 maintain a record of all proceedings;
 coordinate with the appropriate government and non-governmental organizations.

TEACHERS
 provide a safe secure environment where all can learn without anxiety;
 support all children in their class and to establish a climate of trust and respect for all
 discuss with the students the harassment, intimidation, bullying policy, stressing that
bullying of any kind will not be tolerated and will be immediately reported;
 report any incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying that come to your
attention in the required time frame
 take all forms of bullying seriously, and intervene to prevent incident from taking
place.
 Keep their own records off all incidents that happen in their class
 Attend training, which enable them to become equipped to deal with incidents of
bullying and behavior management.

LEARNERS
 Students are expected to show respect and behave appropriately with teachers, school
staff, administrators and guests at all times
 Students must be respectful, proper language when speaking to each other and to staff
members. Profanity is prohibited at all times.
 Students must secure a gate pass from the Admin Office when leaving the school
campus during class hours. The security personnel are instructed not to allow students
to go out of the school premises during school hours. Gate pass must not be used as
an excuse for skipping classes and students leaving may only use the back gate as
such.
 No one is allowed to stay in the school campus after dismissal.
 Students are not allowed to enter the school during weekends and holidays. Only
students with teacher’s permission and parent’s consent are allowed to go to school.
 Students may not bring any of the following items to school:
X Weapons
X Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, vape, lighters, matches, drugs, or drug paraphernalia
X Pets
X Anything that would consider a safety hazard by school official

In addition, students will:

 attend school/classes on time, every day, and be prepared to learn

 Resolved conflicts without physical or verbal violence
  keep safe and clean campus that is free of graffiti, weapons, and drugs
 create a positive school environment, reporting any bullying or harassment
 display good sportsmanship both on and off the athletic field or anywhere on school
 keep social activities safe and fair
 conduct themselves in an appropriate and respectful manner, fulfil their
responsibilities as successful students and citizens, and respect all school-adopted
policies
 demonstrate appropriate and positive behaviour conducive to academic success and
individual achievement
 recognized and exercise their rights while fulfilling all of their responsibilities
 respect and understand the rights of others, the laws of our society and all the school
policies
 commit to participate and capitalize on the educational opportunities provided at the
school
VISITORS
 Visitors are expected to sign in the visitors’ log book and wear
 Visitor’s Pass all the time while inside the premises of the school.

VII. BAUTISTA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL CHILD PROTECTION

COMMITTEE AND THEIR FUNCTIONS

Chairperson EDUARDO B. CASTILLO

: School Head/Principal IV

Vice-Chair: THERESA D. BALATICO

JHS Guidance Designate
Members:
JASON VELASCO
Faculty Club President

ENGR. ALBINO M. MEJIA JR.

PTA President
ANGELINE SEVILLA
Students Representative

MAYLENE C. BAÑAGA
Barangay In-charge of Child Protection Policy

Functions of Child Protection Committee

 Draft a school child protection policy with a code of conduct and a plan to ensure child
protection and safety, which shall be reviewed every 3 years;
 Initiate information dissemination programs and organized activities for the protection of
children from abuse;
 Develop and implemented a school-based referral and monitoring system;(template will
be provided)
 Give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary;
 Coordinate closely with PNP, DSWD, NGOs and non-governmental institutions;
 Ensure that children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and
procedures affecting their welfare.

VIII. PREVENTIONS AND INTERVENTIONS

1. The School Head and the guidance counsellor in cooperation with the advisers shall
conduct and implement school activities and parenting orientation to the students, parents
and/or guardians (PTA), and other stakeholders to help raise awareness on children’s
rights and on child protection policy including anti-bullying policies.
2. Advisers shall have their own time to check and monitor his own advisory and spend
time with the learners. This will help build rapport to the students and provide avenue to
identify learners prone to committing aggressive acts and for conflict resolution.
3. Encourage student initiatives and activities on strengthening child protection and build on
a support system for potential victims.
4. Encourage parents’ involvement in any school activities.
5. The school will actively cooperate with the purok and the barangay, particularly the
Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), on their programs to safe guard
their constituents including programs on protecting the well-being of the children.
6. The school shall have capacity building of all stakeholders including the Child Protection
Committee (CPC)

IX. MECHANISM AND PROCEDURES

A. Handling Cases of Child Abuse, Discrimination, Exploitation and Violence
1. Advisers takes prompt action to counsel the victim. He will then retrieve information
from the subject teachers and prefect of discipline.
2. A formal complaint made will be referred to the guidance counsellor.
3. If the complaint is insufficient in form, the concerned authorities shall immediately
inform the complaint of the requirements of a formal complaint.
4. Report the incident to the school head within 48 hours. Fact finding investigation will
commence.
5. The guidance counsellor shall call the attention of the parents of the students involve
and conduct conference to both parties.
6. Victims and perpetrations shall be given counselling sessions by guidance
counsellor.
7. The incident shall be reported/referred to the Child Protection Committee (CPC).
8. The CPC conduct counselling/conference and will decide for sanctions depending on
the gravity of the offense. For serious cases, the committee shall refer the case to the
concerned public offices (BCPC, BSWDO, DSWD, PNP, etc.)
9. Any information, relating, to the identify and personal circumstances of the victim
perpetrator or bystander shall be treated with utmost confidentiality by the Child
Protection Committee.
10. Investigations and actions shall be in accordance to DepEd orders and guidance.

B. Handling Bullying
B1. Consistent with Section 3 Republic Act 1067, the Anti Bullying Policy 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;
 d. School bus stops;
e. School buses or other vehicles owned, leased or used by a school;
f. School buses or school services privately-owned but accredited by the school.
2. Bullying through the use of technology or an electronic device or other forms of
media owned, leased or used by a school.
3. Bullying at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related and
through the use of technology or an electronic device or other forms of media that is
not owned, leased or used by a school; and
4. Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, who provides information during
an investigation of bullying, or who is a witness to or has reliable information about
bullying.

B2. Producer- Immediate Responses (Section 10 (b), IRR or republic Act No.10627)
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.
2. The school personnel who were 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 victim 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.
v. Bringing the bully to the Guidance office or the designed school personnel.

Prepared by:
CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

EDUARDO B. CASTILLO
Principal IV
Chairperson,CPC
THERESA D. BALATICO
JHS Guidance Designate
Vice-Chairperson, CPC

JASON VELASCO
Faculty Club President

ENGR. ALBINO M. MEJIA JR.

PTA President

ANGELINE SEVILLA
Students Representative

MAYLENE C. BAÑAGA
Barangay In-charge of Child Protection Policy