Reviewing School-Based Child Protection Mechanism in the Philippines: A Process Analysis Grounded in 2010 Case Data

Creating a safe and nurturing school environment for children is a pillar in the development of happy, healthy individuals. This study endeavored to determine whether the process of reporting and referring child maltreatment cases in public elementary schools are in accordance with Anti Child Abuse Law of the Philippines, also known as Republic Act 7610. Respondents of the research are the faculty and principal of a selected resource public school located in of the second district of Davao City, Philippines. Which comprised nine public elementary schools with approximately 9,000 students. An explanatory sequential research design was employed incorporating questionnaires, document analysis, interviews and group discussions and informants include School Principal, Guidance Counselors, teachers and students. The study recommends that the school Principals ensure the effective implementation of child protection policies and monitor compliance with existing directives. Further, school heads should create and assemble the “Child Protection Committee” in accordance with DepEd Child Security Procedure (Luistro, 2012). Guidance Counselors should document all cases in the event of maltreatment and submit them to proper authorities concerned as input to future planning in curtailing child maltreatment cases in the school. With this, it is recommended that all schools conduct an advocacy campaign on child security procedures in all schools so that all those involved in the case and all constituents of the community will be aware of this campaign.