Smaller Classes, More Counselors Urged to Enforce Anti-Bullying Rules

Manila, Philippines  – To ensure the effective implementation of the newly released Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines has urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to prioritize key structural reforms, including reducing class sizes and hiring more guidance counselors and support personnel in schools.

The teachers’ group welcomed the updated IRR, describing it as a necessary step toward fostering safer and more inclusive learning environments. However, ACT warned that the lack of adequate support systems could hinder the law’s success.

“Safe schools are not built through policy alone,” said ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua in a statement on Wednesday. “They are built by investing in the welfare of teachers, empowering support staff, and ensuring that every child—regardless of background—can thrive in a caring, well-equipped environment.”

Quetua emphasized that many teachers are already overburdened with academic and administrative tasks, making it difficult for them to take on additional responsibilities related to enforcing anti-bullying measures. The group also pointed to the chronic shortage of mental health professionals, such as guidance counselors, in the Philippine public school system.

“Without the necessary manpower and support services, even the most well-intentioned policies may fall short,” ACT said. “Teachers cannot—and should not—bear the full weight of these reforms alone.”

ACT called on DepEd to commit to concrete action by funding the hiring of more guidance counselors and school social workers, and to adopt class size reduction policies to allow for more meaningful teacher-student engagement.

The revised IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 outlines clearer protocols for intervention, prevention, and reporting of bullying cases in schools. But for these to be effective, ACT argues, the government must address long-standing systemic issues such as understaffing and resource gaps in public education.

As schools gear up for the new academic year, the group reiterated that the fight against bullying must be rooted not only in regulation but in creating environments where students and teachers alike are supported and protected.

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