Senator Raffy Tulfo sounded the alarm over the rising bullying cases in the Philippines, noting that despite the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, the country remains the “Bullying Capital of the World.”

During a Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing chaired by Senator Bam Aquino, Tulfo highlighted incidents from public high schools across Ilocos Sur, Metro Manila, and Basilan, stressing that one in three Filipino students experiences bullying daily.

From just 1,158 reported cases in 2013, bullying cases surged to 20,000 in 2018. Parents suggested that schools implement clear anti-bullying policies, hold administrators accountable, and install CCTV cameras in classrooms.

“Dapat lahat ng schools ay may klarong anti-bullying policy at dapat minomonitor ng DepEd [at] mas mahigit na parusa sa mga schools na higit agad umaaksyon sa mga bullying cases,” Tulfo said.

EDCOM 2’s Riz Supreme Comia added that the Philippines tops Southeast Asia in bullying, with 50% of Grade 5 students reporting being bullied at least once a month—43% of girls and 53% of boys.

“Ang Pilipinas po ay tinaguriang bullying capital of the world. The most recent CPLM 2024 report shows that the Philippines has the highest bullying rate in Southeast Asia with 50% of our grade 5 students reported being bullied at least once a month,” Comia said

Senators and education officials agreed on urgent government action to curb the country’s escalating bullying crisis.