Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 9147)
The policy aims to ensure that learners are protected and their rights are respected and upheld during armed conflict, based on the Philippine Constitution, international treaties, and relevant Philippine laws.
Section 3, Article XV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, which states the right of children to assistance, including care and nutrition, and special protection from neglect, abuse, and exploitation.
Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
It applies to DepEd Central, Regional, and Schools Division Office personnel; school heads and administrators; teaching and non-teaching personnel; and learners in public and private elementary and secondary schools and alternative learning centers.
GCRVs are offenses against children constituting flagrant violations of their human rights with severe consequences, including killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children, rape and grave sexual violence, abduction, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access.
MRRS serves as the monitoring arm for protecting children in armed conflict by preventing GCRVs and ensuring timely and appropriate responses to violations, gathering and reporting incidents, and providing education interventions and services.
The report must include the source of data (name of reporting party and agency), event information (source of information, date and time, location, number and gender of children affected, names and ages, names of armed group involved, and a description of the incident).
School personnel must report incidents within twenty-four hours from occurrence to the MRRS at the Council for the Welfare of Children, with copies furnished to the Regional Office and Undersecretary for Legal Affairs.
Schools are protected under the law as zones of peace; the policy prohibits occupation, shelling, damaging, or any attack on schools and mandates concrete measures to prevent use and attacks on schools during armed conflict.
The policy references the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on Armed Conflict, UN Security Council Resolutions Nos. 1539, 1612, 1882, and 1998, and other human rights treaties ratified by the Philippines.