To combat all forms of bullying, the Quezon City Government in partnership with the Department of Education – Schools Division Office of Quezon City (DepEd QC), officially launched on Monday a comprehensive anti-bullying campaign covering both public and private schools in the city.
The campaign, themed BAD (Bullying at Diskriminasyon) ‘Yan!, aims to increase awareness, encourage reporting, and strengthen interventions for cases of bullying and discrimination. It seeks to make all QC schools – public and private – safer and more inclusive spaces for every learner.
“Every student deserves to learn in an environment where they are respected, heard, and protected. In QC, we believe that schools should be places of growth, not fear. With this new campaign, we reaffirm our commitment to stand by our children and ensure their voices are never silenced by bullying,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
The initiative addresses not only physical and verbal bullying, but also cyberbullying or digital harassment – a growing concern among students, parents, and educators. The campaign will also push for zero discrimination, ensuring that no student will be treated differently in schools in the city due to their gender, religion, socioeconomic status, appearance or disability.
The local government recognizes that bullying and discrimination can cause distress and loss of confidence to a child. Over time, it may impact how they socialize with fellow students, perform in the classroom, and even their overall well-being.
Central to “B.A.D. ‘Yan!” is its whole-of-city approach. DepEd QC has pledged full support, with division officials, principals, and teachers actively involved in the rollout. Parents, youth leaders, barangay officials, and other organizations will also work alongside the local government to create safer learning environments.
During the recent two-day Education Summit, students, education stakeholders, and local officials recited the Quezon City Pledge Against Bullying and Discrimination, committing to respect the rights of all, reject any form of bullying and discrimination, and help build safe, inclusive, and understanding communities in and beyond school campuses.
“The fight against bullying is not won by schools alone. It takes the collective effort of families, communities, and leaders to shape an environment where respect and kindness prevail. With B.A.D ‘Yan!, we unite all QCitizens to protect our children and nurture them into compassionate and responsible citizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.
“Schools are the second home of our students, and it is our duty to keep them safe,” said Schools Division Superintendent Carleen Sedilla. “We will do everything we can to keep our schools places where every learner is respected and protected. B.A.D. ‘Yan! is a message that is simple to remember, yet powerful enough to inspire change.”
According to Superintendent Sedilla, DepEd QC will issue a Division Memorandum outlining the specific steps and activities in support of the B.A.D. ‘Yan! Campaign, which calls on education stakeholders to Speak Up (Magsalita), Get Involved (Makialam), and Take Part (Makiisa), in the fight against bullying and discrimination.
The campaign empowers victims and witnesses of bullying to speak up and seek help. Students may report incidents to school authorities or through Helpline 122, the city’s unified hotline for concerns, including bullying and discrimination.
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