BY ARNELYN L. LAPATIS & MEKYLA JANE TICAR/CMU Interns
THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) is intensifying efforts to strengthen its child protection policy by focusing on safeguarding measures, capacity building, and the full functionality of dedicated committees in both public and private schools.
Bhong Binondo, coordinator of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children XI, said that DepEd is presently reviewing the Child Protection Policy (CPC).
“Publicly, gi-introduce napud ni DepEd nga naa gyud functionality of Child Protection Committee just to enforce DepEd Order 46, Series of 2012 (mandates the establishment and operationalization of CPCs in all schools),” he said during the Kapehan sa PIA on Monday, July 7, at the SM City Davao.
Binondo added that the policy framework centers on key elements.
“Isa ang bullying, katong pag-handle sa minor to minor, ug katong reporting system mechanism,” he said.
Binondo noted that while preventive and response measures are in place, the reporting process remains a challenge.
“Kani man gyud ang kulang—ang preventive measures naa, ang response measures naa, pero ang bata, paunsa siya nag-report? So, we need a school nga kinahanglan mag-innovate paunsa nga mas makaduol ang bata sa pag-report,” he said.
To address gaps in reporting, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) has reintroduced the MAKABATA Helpline, a multi-platform reporting channel accessible via email, social media, and mobile.
This aligns with Executive Order No. 79 under the current administration, which identified the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the lead agency in handling child abuse cases.
Meanwhile, Binondo added that DepEd XI has established a dedicated Learners Protection Rights Office, complete with hired personnel to handle child protection concerns.
“I think pag abot sa kaso sa bullying, case to case basis jud and padayon ang mga capacity-building sa atong child protection specialist diha sa mga division and district sa atong DepEd,” he said.
The official clarified that child protection extends beyond bullying.
“Dili lang nato i-limit sa bullying ang kaso sa school kay daghan ta diha nagkalain-lain. Naa tay online cyber-bullying, naa pa tay cybercrime,” Binondo said.
He stressed the need for collaboration with barangay councils and other stakeholders to ensure community-wide support for CPCs.
Under DepEd Order No. 40 issued in 2012, each school must have a CPC chaired by the school head, with the guidance counselor as vice chair.
“Kani nga mga committees, sila man tong una pag makadawat ug report ang verification validation and investigation, whether katong naka offend or offended party would face administrative, civil, and criminal cases,” he said.
To note, criminal cases are referred to the appropriate authorities outside DepEd’s jurisdiction.
