Limited parental participation is among the recurring concerns identified in the monitoring of the implementation of City Ordinance 59-2017 or the Baguio Anti-Bullying Ordinance
A report on Ordinance 59-2017 submitted by the Baguio City Council’s Legislative Monitoring and Evaluation Section (LMES) found that schools commonly involve parents through conferences, counseling, and other interventions when bullying or related behavioral concerns arise.
However, the monitoring also identified insufficient parental cooperation and participation as an implementation gap.
Some schools reported difficulties involving parents in conferences and interventions, while others recommended stronger parenting programs and support for families facing challenges that can affect learner behavior and supervision.
The monitoring team therefore recommended increasing parent involvement and education as part of the City’s anti-bullying strategy.
The proposed amendments to the ordinance would make parent and guardian participation more explicit by requiring their active involvement in prevention activities and strengthening stakeholder partnerships among schools, families, barangays, and other agencies.
The recommendations also include regular information and education campaigns that would cover bullying prevention, child protection, and responsible technology use.
Several schools included in the monitoring similarly called for stronger parent engagement including parenting seminars, support networks, and measures to encourage parents or guardians to participate in school conferences and interventions.
The report’s approach treats bullying prevention as a responsibility shared by schools, families, and the wider community rather than solely a disciplinary matter for school authorities.
This emphasis also corresponds with measures being discussed by education stakeholders following recent student-violence incidents. In August, Baguio private schools and DepEd-Baguio cited family, school, and community cooperation as part of efforts to strengthen learner protection.
The monitoring report also recommends stronger coordination with barangays, social welfare agencies, law enforcement, civil society, and other stakeholders in cases requiring intervention beyond the school’s immediate capacity. -Jordan G. Habbiling
