Manila: The Department of Education in Western Visayas (DepEd-6) has resolved 95 percent of bullying incidents reported in schools across the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the regional office, citing data from schools division offices, reported that 966 bullying cases were logged during the School Year 2025-2026, with approximately 918 cases successfully addressed. Dr. Leonerico Barredo, Chief Education Supervisor at the Education Support Services of DepEd-6, stated during a press conference that the incidents have been tackled at the school level. Schools are required to submit reports and intervention plans to the regional office, which then forwards them to the central office for further monitoring and updates.

For the current school year 2026-2027, DepEd-6 has registered a few bullying cases, with a resolution rate of 95 percent based on data from their Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) focal person. Last school year, physical bullying and cyberbullying were identified as the predominant forms. Dr. Barredo emphasized the need for registered guidance counselors to handle these cases, although they are often managed by guidance-designates due to a shortage of counselors.

In response, DepEd-6 launched the WE CARE (We Are Child Advocates for Resilience and Empathy) program to enhance child protection. This flagship initiative includes a monitoring system, response interventions, and capacity-building components to safeguard learner rights and foster meaningful contributions to society.

Additionally, DepEd-6 Regional Director Cristito Eco addressed challenges in crisis preparedness, particularly following an incident in Tacloban. He assured that while DepEd has disaster risk reduction protocols, they are working to become more proactive in anticipating potential incidents in schools. Eco highlighted the importance of collaboration with local government units and the Parents and Teachers Association for sustained support.