Education Secretary Sonny Angara is calling on families to take a more active role in protecting learners from school threats and violence, as the Department of Education (DepEd) strengthens programs that empower parents and guardians as partners in learner protection, values formation, and anti-bullying efforts.
To reinforce this front-line defense, DepEd is expanding its Kaagapay Program under DepEd Memorandum No. 002, s. 2026, while integrating it with the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program established under Republic Act No. 11908.
“Hindi natin kayang solusyunan ang karahasan sa mga paaralan kung sa loob lang ng classroom tayo kumikilos. Ang tahanan ang ating unang depensa,” Angara said, urging families to stay involved in their children’s daily lives and maintain open communication with schools.
“Kausapin natin ang ating mga anak araw-araw, pakinggan natin ang kanilang mga pinagdaraanan, at makipag-ugnayan tayo sa kanilang mga guro at paaralan. Kailangan nating matutunang mapansin ang mga red flags at pagbabago sa kilos ng bata bago pa man umabot sa pananakit o bullying. Ipadama natin sa kanila na hindi sila nag-iisa,” he added.
The Kaagapay Program provides parent communities with practical tools through capacity-building sessions designed to help them recognize warning signs, address behavioral concerns, and coordinate directly with school Child Protection Committees (CPCs) and guidance personnel.
To expand the reach of these efforts, DepEd is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to harmonize PES modules with the Kaagapay Program. The initiative aims to address underlying factors linked to violence, including mental health challenges and online safety risks.
DepEd is also implementing the Strengthening Collaboration of Parents and Teachers on Learner Protection program from July to November in various regions, including the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), National Capital Region (NCR), Cagayan Valley (Region II), Central Luzon (Region III), CALABARZON (Region IV-A), MIMAROPA (Region IV-B), and Bicol (Region V).
The initiative uses session guides developed by the DepEd Bureau of Learner Support Services-Learner Rights and Protection Division in partnership with ChildFund Philippines, Stairway Foundation Inc., and Meta Philippines.
Training sessions conducted with Stairway Foundation Inc. and Meta Philippines tackle critical learner protection concerns, including Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Material (CSAEM), bullying and cyberbullying prevention, nihilistic violent extremism, positive parenting practices, technology-based protective tools, and reporting and referral mechanisms connecting homes, schools, and communities.
These areas are aligned with DepEd’s Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Kaagapay Program frameworks, strengthening parents’ capacity to create supportive and protective home environments.
Trained Regional and Division Learner Rights and Protection (LRP) personnel and Education Program Specialists in Values Education are expected to lead the training of facilitators at the division and school levels.
At the school level, DepEd is coordinating closely with Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School Governing Councils (SGCs) to incorporate parent education into existing learner protection initiatives and strengthen home-school partnerships.
“Shared accountability ang pagprotekta sa ating mga mag-aaral. Sa pagtutulungan ng paaralan, magulang, at komunidad, masisiguro natin na ligtas, nababantayan, at may nagmamahal sa bawat batang Pilipino,” Angara said.
