Committee

Chairman: Lyra Maryh C. Macabugao, PhD.

Members:

Cresencia D. Liñan

Aileen P. Sampaga, MD

Norma C. Angngasing

Duties and Responsibilities

The School Heads shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Ensure the institution of effective child protection policies and procedures, and monitor compliance thereof;

B. Ensure that the school adopts a child protection policy;

C. Ensure that all pupils, students or learners, school personnel, parents, guardians or custodians, and visitors and guests are made aware of child protection policy (Annex “C”).

D. Organize and convene the Child Protection Committee for the school;

E. Conduct the capacity building activities for the members of the Child Protection Committee and Guidance Counselors/Teachers;

F. Conduct disciplinary proceedings in cases of offenses committed by pupils, students or learners;

G. Ensure that the participatory and other rights of children are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare;

H. Maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying or peer abuse and submit after each school year to the Division Office the report and a copy of the intake form (Annexes “A” & “B”, respectively);

I. Conduct the appropriate training and capabilitybuilding activities on child protection measures and protocols;

J. Ensure that the school adopts a student Code of Conduct to be followed by every pupil, student or learner while on school grounds, or when traveling to and from school, or during a school-sponsored activity, and during lunch period, whether on or off campus;

K. Adopt such conflict resolution mechanisms that respect the rights of indigenous peoples, provided that they conform to this Department Order and they uphold the rights of the child;

L. Coordinate with the appropriate offices and other agency or instrumentality for appropriate assistance and intervention, as may be required in the performance of its functions;

M. Coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development or, the appropriate government agencies or non-governmental organizations on a Child Protection Hotline for reporting abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and other similar acts and for counseling;

N. Ensure that all incidents of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and other similar acts are addressed in accordance with the provisions of this Department Order.

Duties and Responsibilities of School Personnel

Article 218 of the Family Code of the Philippines provides the following responsibilities of school administrators, teachers, academic and nonacademic and other personnel:

A. Exercise special parental authority and responsibility over the child while under their supervision, instruction and custody. Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity or institution.

Articles 220 and 233 of the Family Code of the Philippines, Presidential Decree No. 603, and other related laws enumerated the following duties and responsibilities of the abovementioned persons and personnel over the children under their supervision, instruction and custody:

B. Keep them in their company and support, educate and instruct them by right precept and good example;

C. Give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and understanding;

D. Enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental health at all times;

E. Furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad company and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals;

F. Represent them in all matters affecting their interests;

G. Inculcate the value of respect and obedience;

H. Practice positive and non-violent discipline, as may be required under the circumstances; provided, that in no case shall corporal punishment be inflicted upon them;

I. Perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon them, as substitute parents or guardians; and

J. School personnel shall also strictly comply with the school’s child protection policy.

Duties and Responsibilities of Pupils, Students and Learners

Pupils, students and learners shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

A. Comply with the school’s regulations, as long as they are in harmony with their best interests. Pupils, students and learners shall refrain from:

i. Engaging in discrimination, or leading a group of pupils or students to discriminate another, with reference to one’s physical appearance, weaknesses and status of any sort;

ii. Doing any act that is inappropriate or sexually provocative;

iii. Participating in behavior of other students that is illegal, unsafe or abusive;

iv. Marking or damaging school property, including books, in any way;

v. Engaging in fights or any aggressive behavior;

vi. Introducing into the school premises or otherwise possessing prohibited articles, such as deadly weapons, drugs, alcohol, toxic and noxious substances, cigarettes and pornographic material; and

vii. Performing other similar acts that cause damage or injury to another.

An allegation that any of these acts has been committed shall not be used to curtail the child’s basic rights, or interpreted to defeat the objectives of this Department Order.

B. Conduct themselves in accordance with their levels of development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities, with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other persons;

C. Respect another person’s rights regardless of opinion, status, gender, ethnicity, religion, as well as everyone’s moral and physical integrity; and

D. Observe the Code of Conduct for pupils, students and learners.

The CPC shall perform the following functions:

1. Draft a school child protection policy with a code of conduct and a plan to ensure child protection and safety, which shall be reviewed every three (3) years. The template for the school child protection policy is attached as Annex “C”;

2. Initiate information dissemination programs and organize activities for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination and bullying or peer abuse;

3. Develop and implement a school-based referral and monitoring system. The template for the referral system is attached as Annex “D”;

4. Establish a system for identifying students who may be suffering from significant harm based on any physical, emotional or behavioral signs;

5. Identify, refer and, if appropriate, report to the appropriate offices cases involving child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination and bullying;

6. Give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary in securing expert guidance counseling from the appropriate offices or institutions;

7. Coordinate closely with the Women and Child Protection Desks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO), other government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as may be appropriate;

8. Monitor the implementation of positive measures and effective procedures in providing the necessary support for the child and for those who care for the child; and

9. Ensure that the children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare.