Abstract

In 2022, a report revealed alarming instances of alleged sexual harassment of high school students by their teachers, prompting disappointment among various sectoral groups advocating for women's, children's, and human rights, particularly given the enactment of Republic Act No. 11313, known as the Safe Spaces Act or "Bawal Bastos" Law. This study investigated the awareness, accessibility of information, and compliance of 190 public secondary school teachers teaching grades 7 to 10 in the Schools Division of the City of Biñan, Laguna, Philippines. The results showed that teachers had a 'very high' awareness level regarding the Safe Spaces Act (x̄ = 3.63), particularly concerning their responsibilities to prevent and address gender-based sexual harassment. They rated the accessibility of information as 'high' (x̄ = 3.03), recognizing the role of school heads and focal persons as knowledgeable resources for addressing harassment concerns. Additionally, teachers perceived themselves as having a 'very high' level of compliance with the Act’s provisions, demonstrating professionalism in their interactions (x̄ = 3.46). The analysis indicated a significant relationship among awareness, information accessibility, and compliance (p-value = 0.000), suggesting a moderate correlation between these variables. Consequently, an action plan was proposed to enhance information accessibility and sustain awareness and compliance with RA 11313, aiming to promote a safer learning environment for all educational stakeholders.