DepEd chief signs IRR for law on mental health programs in schools
Department of Education Sec. Sonny Angara speaks to the members of the media and answer questions at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Cafe Adriatico, Manila City in this file photo taken on January 22, 2025. 黑料社 file photo / ARNEL TACSON
MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday signed the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act.
According to Angara, this will provide concrete steps to prioritize the students’ well-being and create a safe learning environment for them.
“Sa pagpapatupad ng batas na ito, titiyakin natin na hindi lang ito magiging isang polisiya kundi isang konkretong hakbang upang matiyak na may malalapitan ang bawat estudyante at guro sa oras ng pangangailangan,” Angara said in a statement.
(By implementing this law, we will ensure that this will not just be a policy, but a concrete step to ensure that every student and teacher can seek help if needed.)
READ: Marcos signs law to institutionalize mental health programs in schools
Article continues after this advertisementThe Department of Education (DepEd) said that Mental Health and Well-Being Offices (MHWO) in high-burden areas will be established through the IRR.
Article continues after this advertisement“Led by a Schools Division Counselor, the MHWO is a direct answer to one of the Secretary’s 5-point Agenda: prioritizing learners’ well-being and creating an enabling learning environment,” the DepEd said in the same statement.
The agency will also place one school counselor in large schools in a bid to build care centers and support DepEd’s mental health program.
Aside from this, the DepEd said that it is partnering with the Second Congressional Commission on Education to review and update the policies of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 “to make the law more responsive to current school realities and ensure more effective enforcement.”
READ: DepEd taps Edcom to revise anti-bullying measures by next school year
In line with this, the DepEd added that the IRR of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act will be integrated with the IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.
The agency’s Learner Rights and Protection Division recorded 522 bullying cases through the TeleSafe Contact Center from November 2022 to February 2025.
“We understand that the numbers we currently have don’t fully capture what’s actually happening on the ground. That’s why the Department is not just responding to the reports we receive but also working to put prevention measures in place,” Angara stated.
