Metro Manila, Philippines – After recent reports of bullying and death of two students, Senator Win Gatchalian called on local government units (LGUs) to immediately implement the Parent Effectiveness Service Program in an effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“This is beyond alarming—it is a clear sign of a crisis,” said Gatchalian, who leads the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.
This comes as reports of two Grade 8 students in Las Piñas were stabbed to death by three fellow learners outside their school, followed by a recent viral incident in Quezon City’s Bagong Silangan High School where a group of students were seen harassing a female classmate by pulling her hair and dragging her across the classroom floor.
“When violence becomes the language of our youth, we must confront the hard truth: we are failing in our duty to raise a generation grounded in discipline and respect,” Gatchalian said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) earlier said schools will be integrating anti-bullying lessons into K-to-10 curriculum subjects in an effort to “deepen value formation” among students beginning the upcoming school year 2025 to 2026.
However, Gatchalian said LGUs should not wait for this implementation before launching intervention programs.
“We cannot wait for more student deaths before we implement the interventions available to us, including the GMRC and Values Education Act,” the senator said.
“LGUs should be mobilized now to implement the Parent Effectiveness Service Program to shape our learners to be good and responsible citizens,” he added.
The Parent Effectiveness Service Program or Republic Act No. 11908 is a law seeking to offer training on effective parenting practices, child development, health and nutrition, and values formation.
Gatchalian’s senate panel previously said it will launch an inquiry into DepEd’s policies and measures against bullying.
