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PRINCIPAL Richard Santos of Rizal High School (RHS) spends most of his days navigating the challenges of leading one of the largest secondary schools in the country.
But some days stand out for the wrong reasons.
The Program for International Student Assessment or PISA findings in 2022 reveal that one in three students experienced weekly bullying. DEPED PHOTOS
"I just got back from the fiscal," he shared, referencing a recent violence case involving five RHS students.
For Santos, violence that stemmed from bullying is more than a statistic; it is a pressing reality that plays out in school corridors, classrooms and even online.
The numbers are staggering: in just one school year, RHS recorded a total of 382 bullying cases, with 48 of them resulting in physical injuries.
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The sheer scale of these incidents is compounded by the fact that RHS has only one guidance counselor to cater to a student population of 12,584.
More than the numbers, Santos worries about the long-term impact of bullying on students.
He has seen children lose interest in school after being constantly teased or publicly shamed by classmates.
"Sometimes, the reason is simple teasing. But if this happens every day, the child loses interest in going to school," he explained.
The principalis quick to point out that "bullies are often also victims of bullying."
Recognizing the urgency of the problem, Education Secretary Sonny Angara signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act on Mar. 4, 2025.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara
"By implementing this law, we will ensure that it will not just be a policy but a concrete step to ensure that every student and teacher has someone to turn to in times of need," Angara said.
Through the IRR, the Department of Education (DepEd) will prioritize the establishment of a Mental Health and Well-Being Office in high-burden areas.
The goal is to build care centers and support the DepEd's mental health program, taking some pressure off school leaders like Santos.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s vision of schools as "no-bully zones," DepEd is also working alongside the Second Congressional Commission on Education or Edcom 2 to review and update the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to make the law more responsive to current school realities and ensure more effective enforcement.
To further strengthen these initiatives, DepEd will harmonize the revised IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act IRR with the IRR of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.
"Our goal is not just to address these incidents but to instill positive behavior among our children," Angara said.
For Santos, these reforms are a welcome development.
But he knows that policies alone will not solve the problem, citing the need for collective effort from students, parents, educators and the community.
"This is not just a school fight. Parents and the community must join us in ensuring that every student is safe at school," the RHS principal said.
