Legarda Hailed as Distinguished UP Alumna

MANILA-Citing her contribution in protecting the environment and pushing for climate change adaptation policies, the University of the Philippines (UP) has chosen Senator Loren Legarda as one of its distinguished alumni for the year.

Legarda, who graduated cum laude from UP in 1981 with a Bachelor in Arts, major in Broadcast Communications degree, is the premier state university’s 2013 Distinguished Alumna for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Adaptation.

“I thank my Alma Mater for recognizing my advocacy on the environment. My vision is to build a safer and greener nation where every Filipino contributes to protecting our environment and making our communities disaster-resilient. I feel grateful when these efforts are acknowledged and I am greatly inspired to work even more. But more than the recognition, the greater reward is when we shall have benefitted and made a difference in the lives of the Filipino people, especially the poor and most vulnerable in our society.” said Legarda, who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change.

Legarda worked for the enactment of laws on environmental governance like the Clean Air Act, the Solid Waste Management Act, the Renewable Energy Act, and the Environmental Awareness and Education Act. She also authored the Climate Change Act and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, which were recognized by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) as among the world’s best laws on the subject.

At her own initiative, Legarda spearheaded an information and education campaign on climate change. She worked with various government agencies to create the Disaster Preparedness and First Aid Handbook, and produced films that explain the science of climate change, its impact on our everyday lives and how leaders can strive for a disaster-resilient development. These films, namely: “Ulan sa Tag-Araw: Isang Dokyu-drama Ukol sa  Pagbabago ng  Klima”, “Ligtas Likas”, “Buhos”, “Now is the Time”, and “Ligtas”, had been shared to the country’s 136 cities and 1,495 municipalities, and over 6,000 public schools and 112 state colleges and universities with 326 satellite campuses.

Meanwhile, through her urban greening program called Luntiang Pilipinas, which has planted two million trees in more than 500 hectares across the Philippines, the Senator continues to enjoin the participation of stakeholders in pursuing reforestation and urban revitalization.

In 2008, Legarda was appointed as the UN Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaption for Asia and the Pacific, which led her to engage in debates with global thought leaders and called for action along with women leaders of the world.

Moreover, she led international dialogues in Paris, Beijing, Geneva, Copenhagen and Hanoi and high-level advocacy with heads of state in Bhutan and the Maldives. She is committed to elevating the consciousness of the governments and peoples here and abroad on disaster resilience, green growth, and sustainable development.

She continues to spearhead multi-stakeholder workshops and fora and public information and education campaigns to institutionalize disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation at the community level.  In partnership with the local government units, private business groups, and the academe, she vigorously promotes geohazard mapping and risk assessment in local development planning and business continuity planning as a key strategy in reducing disaster risk in the country.

In her third term as senator, Legarda ought to do more to uplift the poor and the quality of life of the Filipinos. “To secure a sustainable future, we need to prevent the recurrence of tragedies and losses from natural hazard and climate change. We must nip the disaster problem in the bud. This we can do more effectively if we look deeper into the underlying causes of our disaster vulnerability with competent disaster research and evaluation and, based on science and evidence, introduce needed policy and systems reform,” Legarda explained.

Aside from the UP Distinguished Alumna Award, Legarda has received other recognitions for her environmental and climate change adaptation advocacies, namely: Hero of Resilience conferred by the United Nations on the International Day for Disaster Reduction (2012), Asian Leader Award for Environment Policy, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (2011), Awardee for the Environment conferred by the Priyadarshni Academy in Mumbai, India (2004), Global 500 Roll of Honor Laureate conferred by the United Nations Environment Programme in Turin, Italy (2001), and Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (2000). She has also been chosen as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 1992, and The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service (TOWNS) in 1993.

Illegal logging syndicate tagged behind gun attack on Ecija forester

CABANATUAN CITY –  A syndicate engaged in llegal logging in identified “hot spots” in Nueva Ecija has been tagged for the twin assassination attempts on a forester of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the province.

          Leovino Ignacio, DENR provincial  DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer, said a syndicate operating in Bongabon town could be behind the gun attack on Edgardo Luna.

          De Luna, 49, of Barangay Bantug Bulalo here suffered a gunshot wound at the back of his neck after he was shot by a motorcycle-riding gunman Friday at Purok Camalig, Barangay Bangad.

          De Luna was driving his motorcycle on his way home when shot from close range by the gunman who was riding in tandem with a companion.

          It was the second slay attempt on De Luna who was also shot by a lone gunman on May 23 by a gunman while he was aboard a XLT passenger jeep in Barangay Bitas also in this city.

          Ignacio said De Luna may have angered members of the syndicate operating in Bongabon town following a series of successful anti-illegal logging operations there.

“This is a big syndicate,” he said, adding many were hurt by the DENR’s campaign against illegal logging of which De Luna is in the forefront, particularly  in Bongabon.

          Ignacio said the intensified campaign against illegal loggers was earlier ordered by DENR regional executive director Maximo Dichoso targeting Bongabon and the other “hot spots” such as the towns of  Carranglan, Gabaldon, Gen. Tinio, Laur and Pantabangan.

          Earlier, De Luna led a DENR team in confiscating 1,000 board feet of wood from the owner of a furniture shop in Barangay Antipolo in Bongabon.

Ignacio called on local government officials in the “hot spots” areas to help out in the anti-illegal logging campaign. “If they would just help us, I see no reason why our campaign won’t succeed,” he said.

Juan Fernandez Jr., DENR community environment and natural resources officer for central Nueva Ecija based in Talavera town has asked Ignacio to arm forest rangers in their fight against illegal loggers. (Manny Galvez) 

JINGGOY WANTS JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF “SEX-FOR-FLIGHT” MODUS

Acting Senate President Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada is calling on the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment to render justice to distressed overseas Filipino workers alleged to have been victimized into prostitution and sexual abuse by Filipino embassy and labor officers.

 

Sen. Estrada also challenged the government agencies to dismantle this network operating in Middle East countries and preying on our distressed Filipina workers and to put an end to this exploitative practice, beginning from the expulsion of erring embassy and labor officials from their posts and prosecution with criminal and trafficking offenses.

 

Jinggoy further conveyed that he will work for P1 budget for the DFA and the DOLE should they fail to resolve this case with dispatch and to punish unscrupulous Filipino diplomats involved in this “sex-for-flight” modus.

 

“Gaya marahil ng mga nakarinig ng istoryang ito, ako ay nanggagalaiti sa galit nang aking malaman na ang ilang opisyal ng ating embahada at POLO ay nakuha pang pagkakitaan ang kalunos-lunos na sinapit ng ating mga kababayang OFW. Sila na tinatakbuhan ng mga OFW at inaasahang magtatanggol sa kanilang karapatan at kapakanan ang siya palang magsasamantala sa kanila,” Jinggoy laments.

 

Sen. Estrada, who is chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development and Congressional Oversight Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, says that officials found guilty of this heinous offense must be immediately put behind bars and slapped with administrative sanctions, including perpetual disqualification from public office.

 

Sen. Estrada is reacting to an exposé alleging some embassy and labor officials posted in the Middle East, particularly in Kuwait, are involved in “sex-for-flight” scheme where distressed OFWs are forced to have sex in exchange for a ticket back to the Philippines.

  

Another report states that embassy officials are running prostitution rings victimizing female wards in OFW shelters.

 

Sen. Estrada, who visited numerous Filipino welfare centers around Middle East in the past few years, notes that hundreds of OFWs, mostly women who absconded from their employers due to physical abuse and who fell victims to illegal recruitment, are housed temporarily in Philippine Overseas Labor Office – Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (POLO-OWWA) shelters while waiting for the processing and release of their repatriation and employment documents.

 

Both the DOLE and the DFA have launched their separate investigation into the matter and have called on victims to come out and file complaints before the authorities.

Legarda Condemns Reported Sex-for-Fly Ops by 3 Embassy Officials

Senator Loren Legarda today condemned the reported forced prostitution of distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) allegedly involving three Philippine embassy officials in the Middle East.

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations noted news reports which revealed that three Philippine embassy officials are allegedly involved in “sex-for-fly” operations, engaging in acts with fellow Filipinos staying in OFW shelters in Amman, Jordan, Kuwait, and Damascus, Syria in exchange for the Filipino workers’ repatriation.

“This should not be tolerated, should be investigated, should be meted the full force of the law, if true,” said Legarda.

“But we should be careful in generalizing statements because most of our Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials here and abroad are competent and should not be tainted by a few bad eggs,” she added.

“It’s already hard for Filipinos working abroad to be apart from their families. It is harder when they get abused or duped by their agencies or employers. It is unforgivable when the people, their fellow countrymen at that, who they expect to help them and provide them protection, are the ones who would subject them to further abuse and suffering,” Legarda said.

Legarda Bares Climate Change Platform for Next Term

MANILA-Re-elected Senator Loren Legarda today bared her platform on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) for the next six years.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that her priority will be the assessment of the state of implementation of the laws on environment, DRR and CCA that she authored.

“As we experience the intensity of the changing climate through extreme weather events, our communities and citizens become more vulnerable to disaster risks. A 2013 World Bank report revealed that 74% of the country’s population are vulnerable to disasters caused by natural hazards. The Philippines recorded 2,630 disaster-related deaths in 2012, the highest data recorded worldwide for that year,” she pointed out.

“Disasters have strong effect in our economy even causing us budget deficits. In 2009, typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng caused economic damages equivalent to 2.7 percent of our GDP,” she added.

The Senator explained that while the country has shown improvements in its disaster risk reduction and management efforts, particularly through increased budget allocations for DRR, there remains a lot of work to be done.

“We must implement our environmental and disaster preparedness laws such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, Climate Change Act, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, and the People’s Survival Fund Law. The strict enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Law is very important, most especially in flood-prone areas,” she said.

Legarda also said that she will continue to support and initiate programs that would promote the improvement of health emergency management system, and strengthen disaster research and evaluation as basis for sound policy, plan, and interventions in the country.

Furthermore, she will allocate funds from her priority development assistance fund (PDAF) for the establishment of a model green campus and will engage concerned government agencies for the promotion of green jobs and green skills in the country.

She will also intensify her information, education and communication campaign on disaster preparedness. She will continue to distribute geohazard maps nationwide along with the monitoring of the strict enforcement of land use regulations.

“The DRR regional workshops will be done in the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels and we will continue to conduct DRR lectures in state universities and colleges. Soon, I will also launch Ligtas, an instructional video on disaster preparedness that was directed by Direk Brillante Mendoza,” she said.

“Every natural hazard that hits the country reveals the risks and weaknesses that we must immediately address. Climate change and extreme weather events are among the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. But these challenges we can overcome if our programs and mechanisms in place actually address the specific vulnerabilities present in each community in the country,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda Commends DepEd’s Programs for IPs, Heritage Schools

Senator Loren Legarda today lauded the Department of Education for the allotment of funds for indigenous peoples’ (IP) education and expressed support to the agency’s effort to conserve heritage schools in the country.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities, noted that the DepEd has allotted P100 million, which will be distributed to 100 school divisions nationwide, to fund education capacity-building initiatives for IPs such as training for implementers of IP Education (IPEd) program, engaging in partnership programs with concerned organizations, and creating an IP database.

“I am glad with these culture and heritage related initiatives of DepEd. I hope that the funds will be effectively used not only for the delivery of quality education to our IPs but also for the preservation and promotion of their culture and heritage,” she said.

“We must guarantee that our IPs have access to quality education to increase their chances for employment and make them competent and competitive in the workplace,” she added.

Meanwhile, Legarda said that the DepEd directive to make an inventory and conserve the country’s heritage school buildings known as Gabaldons, which were built during the American period, is significant to efforts to preserve heritage and promote history.

“These Gabaldon schools, like the heritage houses built during the Spanish period, speak much about our history. I hope we can still revive all these school buildings not just for display but to be used for their original purpose as places of learning,” said Legarda, noting that some of the structures are either in poor condition or have been abandoned already.

“As we teach the Filipino youth our nation’s culture and history, we should also inculcate in them the respect for the things that form part of our heritage, like the Gabaldon schools, because these structures have been witnesses to various events in our history and conserving them is an important part of preserving the stories of our forefathers,” she concluded.

Trillanes lauds new law on environmental planning

Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV has lauded the signing of the law regulating the environmental planning profession, saying this will lay the groundwork for sustainable development in the country.

President Benigno S. Aquino III signed on May 27, 2013 the Environmental Planning Act of 2013 or Republic Act 10587, which replaces the 34-year-old Presidential Decree No. 1308 that will regulate the practice of this discipline in the country.

“We are thankful to the President for signing this law. It will not only modernize the profession of environmental planning in the country, but it will also lay the groundwork for the country’s sustainable development,” said Trillanes, principal sponsor of the Senate version.

RA 10587 provides for a more comprehensive definition of the practice of environmental planning, which now refers to the “multi-disciplinary art and science of analyzing, specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing and regulating the use and development of land and water resources, in relation to their environs, for the development of sustainable communities and ecosystems.”

The new law also updates the regulation on the registration, licensing and practice of the profession in order to “promote and maintain technically competent and responsible professional environmental planners whose standards of practice and service are globally competitive,” Trillanes added.

The law also imposes mandatory continuing professional education for environmental planners to ensure that practitioners remain globally competitive and abreast with recent developments in the field.

Legarda: Enough of the destruction of our coral reefs

Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call on the Philippine Coast Guard to be more vigilant in guarding Philippine waters following another incident of a foreign vessel running aground a coral reef within the country’s waters.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that the MV Unicorn Lodger, with 18 Vietnamese crew onboard, ran aground in the area of Sambauan Island, Maripipi, Biliran on Thursday night.

Further investigation on the incident is being conducted, but a news report quoting an officer of the municipal government indicated that about 270 square meters of coral reef in the area was destroyed.

“Early in the year, the Tubbataha Reef, a World Heritage Site, was damaged after the USS Guardian of the US Navy and a Chinese fishing vessel ran aground.  Barely have our reefs recovered from that incident and here comes another foreign vessel, inflicting damages on our coral reefs in Maripipi.  Conducting investigations, one after another, and deporting the culprits is not the solution to the problem," Legarda said in frustration over the seeming helplessness of our Coast Guard in protecting our maritime zones.  

She lamented that while the world's marine resources should be safer in view of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,  a legal instrument that binds countries to principles and a framework to address issues of marine conservation, many of the world's marine resources, including the Philippines', continue to suffer from the irresponsible ways of those who own and operate maritime vessels.

"It is lamentable that we have another incident of coral reef destruction caused by a foreign vessel. Beyond investigation and the imposition of penalties, we need to start focusing our efforts on preventive measures.  No amount of penalties can immediately bring back the damaged corals that took decades to mature. Without corals, our food security will be threatened. If need be, let us call the attention of the concerned parties to the UNCLOS, using the appropriate channels, to seek their cooperation and support toward putting a stop to these destructive incidents," Legarda said.

“We may not be able to guard every inch of the entire coast and Philippine territorial waters, but we have to find ways to strengthen our capacities to guard and protect our marine environment.  In the meantime, this incident needs to be resolved in ways that the responsible parties will be made to answer for the destruction they have caused.  Enough of the "slap on the hand" approach.  We need more grit and teeth in the enforcement of both local and international laws," Legarda said.

Drilon addresses Filipino community in US, urges them to help in nation building

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Legarda Calls for Constant Vigilance Amid Rainy Season

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today called for constant vigilance among government authorities, communities and citizens as the rainy season has already started and especially with the southwest monsoon bringing heavy rains in several parts of the country.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, said that everyone should be on heightened alert because with continuous and heavy rains, floodwaters rise swiftly and landslides are more likely to occur.

“As a country prone to typhoons, we are already aware which areas are at high risk to floods. The heavy rains on Thursday brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat flooded many parts of Metro Manila including major thoroughfares, several roads were impassable, and many students and employees were stranded. We cannot just get used to this kind of scenario, we have to do something and we have to act now because heavy and excessive rainfall is part of the ‘new norm’,” Legarda stressed.

“The continuous implementation and strengthening of flood control projects is very much needed. The Department of Public Works and Highways’ drainage protection works along national roads and bridges, relocation of informal settlers living along riverbanks and esteros, and drainage improvement and watershed projects in selected locations, as well as the Metro Manila Development Authority’s estero clean-up drive to allow floodwater to subside easily, are some of the programs that communities and citizens should support with their own efforts to prevent flooding particularly through waste segregation and clean-up of waterways in their barangays,” she added.

Legarda said that everyone should be involved in the effort to make the whole nation prepared against natural hazards because the government alone won’t be able to shoulder all the responsibility.

She also urged citizens to be on full alert for heavy rains and severe floods and cooperate with national and local authorities by heeding warnings.

“We need not live with recurrent flooding that put lives at risk and disrupt our social and economic activities. Prevention is always better than cure. We must learn from our past experiences, practice enhanced disaster preparedness and response, and be proactive in reducing the risk of disasters,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda: We Can and We Must End Child Labor

MANILA-Alarmed over the high number of children working as domestic workers, Senator Loren Legarda today said that the government, in close coordination with concerned non-governmental organizations, must eliminate child labor, stressing that the nation already has the laws in place to do so.

Legarda made the statement following the release of a report from the International Labour Organization, which revealed that about 10.5 million children around the world work as domestic workers and 6.5 million of which are aged between five and 14 years.

“It is lamentable that there are children who are forced into domestic work, doing household chores in their employer’s home instead of going to school. It is a sad fact there are children who are forced to work to support their families and are deprived of their childhood and their right to education,” she said.

The Senator said that in the Philippines, child labor should be addressed with the help of several laws such as the Anti-Child Labor Law (Republic Act 9231), the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act  (Republic Act 10364), and the Domestic Workers Act (Republic Act 10361).

The Anti-Child Labor Law, which Legarda authored, protects children from being engaged into work outside the protection of their parents or guardian, and that which might endanger their life, safety and development.

The Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which the Senator sponsored, protects children from being trafficked through its strengthened provisions which also covers attempted trafficking and accessory or accomplice liability.

Meanwhile, the Domestic Workers Act, which Legarda co-authored and co-sponsored, deems it unlawful to employ children below 15 years of age as domestic worker or kasambahay, while those who are 15 years old but below 18 years of age, are considered as working children and are protected under the Anti-Child Labor Act.

“We must strictly implement these laws and give back to these working children the happy and normal childhood they deserve. The time will come when they must work, but for as long as they our children, they must be protected, cared for, and assured their rights as children,” Legarda concluded.

Drilon: Have faith in God, government, ourselves

CAVITE-In celebrating the Philippine’s 115^th Independence from colonizers, Senator Franklin M. Drilon encouraged Filipinos to keep on trusting God, the government and themselves.

“We need to strengthen our faith in God, in our government and in ourselves. We must be united in order to pursue our dream of a progressive and a peaceful country,” said Drilon, who led today/June 12 the flag-raising ceremony at the Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite to commemorate the 115^th anniversary of Philippine Independence.

“Ang mabuting pamamahala at matatag na pamumuno – ito ang bumubuo sa pangarap ng matibay na pundasyong politikal ng ating mga mamamayan.  Hindi binitiwan ng mga Pilipino ang layuning ito kahit pa may mga nagsasabing hindi kailanman makakamit ng ating bansa ang kasaganaan dahil sa bulok na sistemang politikal at kultura,” said Drilon in a speech.

He said that the result of the recently-held elections was a reflection of Filipino’s unwavering desire to achieve good governance.

“Our people have shown in the recently-held elections that they are one with us in the pursuit of ‘daang matuwid’. They are tired of the kind of governance that is driven by personal interests and ambitions. They want genuine and meaningful reforms,” emphasized Drilon.

Drilon said the reforms put forward by President Aquino have started to make a positive impact on the lives of the Filipino people, especially the poor and marginalized.

He lauded the unprecedented 7.8 percent first quarter growth rate making Philippine economy the fastest growing in Asia.

Citing the conditional cash transfer program with a budget of over P40 billion in 2013, he said the government was able to assist 3.9 million poorest families who are given a monthly stipend of P1,400 a month.

Drilon also said the government’s enhanced Philhealth insurance program now benefits more than five million families who cannot afford to seek even basic medical care.

The government, according to Drilon, is now constructing more than 60,000 classrooms to finally address the backlogs.

While Drilon said much has been achieved, much remains to be done in order to better the lives of the people.

“However, I submit that much needs to be done. These programs would be more meaningful if the people in the grassroots level, the men and women on the street, would feel a remarkable improvement in their lives,” said Drilon. “Ang pinakamalaking hamon ngayon ay kung paano isalin ang tagumpay na ito tungo sa magandang kinabukasan ng ating mga mamamayan.”

 Drilon also celebrated the Filipinos’ unyielding faith in democracy, saying that the “people’s will and zealousness to preserve our democratic gains prevailed over national security threats, political trials and daunting economic and social debacles. The Filipino’s indomitable spirit triumphed over all imaginable odds.”

He reminded the people about the sacrifices and heroism of their forefathers which led to a free and democratic country.

Drilon said the best way to honor their legacy is by contributing substantially to nation building. “Hard work, honesty, little acts of kindness and heroism will make a huge difference.”

“Every day, we are faced with different choices. Let us choose the road that will bring us to our dream of lasting peace and prosperity for our country and that road is no other than the “daang matuwid,” ended Drilon.

Legarda: Free Our Nation From Poverty, Promote Inclusive Growth

MANILA-Senator Loren Legarda today said that Filipinos should have a shared vision of freeing the nation from poverty as she expressed support for the government’s programs to make the fruits of economic growth be felt by everyone.

Legarda made the statement as the nation celebrates the 115^thAnniversary of Philippine Independence on June 12. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Kalayaan 2013: Ambagan Tungo sa Malawakang Kaunlaran” (Independence Day 2013: Pitching in Towards Inclusive Growth).

“The Philippines’ growth has been surprising economists. In the first quarter of 2013, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8 percent, even faster than China and its Asian neighbors. But the greater challenge is translating the impressive numbers into more job opportunities, stable employment, equitable access to quality education, health services, and other social services, and safe and disaster-resilient communities for Filipinos,” she said.

Legarda said that investing heavily in the countryside must be included in development initiatives—support for the growth of micro, small and medium enterprises to create more employment opportunities; establishing livelihood training programs; and providing technical and financial support to farmers and fisherfolk.

She added that the conservation of the environment should also be part of growth initiatives, stressing that the decline of ecosystems has been determined as one of the underlying drivers of disaster risks and poverty. Thus, protecting ecosystems—which involves rehabilitating forests, cleaning rivers, and stopping pollution, among other actions, must be done now.

“The government has been instituting reforms that promote inclusive growth and everyone is enjoined to support these initiatives because like our forefathers, who shared the vision of independence and united towards its fulfillment, we can only free our nation from poverty if we all work together to make good use of the opportunities that come with an improving economy,” Legarda concluded.

Anti-bullying bill OK’d on third reading

MANILA-A bill authored by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV seeking to institutionalize policies against bullying in all primary and secondary schools has been approved on final reading in the Senate.

 

If this becomes a law, schools will be mandated to adopt policies to address all forms of bullying, implement disciplinary actions and establish a system of reporting.

 

“Bullying remains to be a serious and prevalent problem in our schools today,” said Trillanes, principal author of the bill in the Senate. “Studies have shown that aside from the physical harm it may cause, bullying can cause psychological and psychosomatic problems among victims and perpetrators, which could cause greater problems in our society later on.”

 

“With this bill, I hope that bullying will be addressed through the proactive measures and policies which will be adopted by all schools in the country,” Trillanes added.

 

In the approved bill, bullying is defined as the “severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property; creating a hostile environment at school for the other student; infringing on the rights of the other student at school; or materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a school.”

 

The bill likewise directs the Department of Education to include activities that will enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers, school administrators, and employees on preventing and addressing bullying acts in its training programs.

 

“I have been fighting bullies in our government. And I believe that bullying in our society will be eradicated if we start addressing it in our schools, where our children’s values are shaped and where unlikely behaviors may develop as result of such acts. Thus, it must be our collective concern to shield our children from abusive behavior and from the vicious cycle of bullying and violence especially during their formative years,” added Trillanes, who is a father of two school children.