MANILA- President Rodrigo Dutete has issued a written proclamation that makes the second week of every February as the National Hazing Prevention Week to raise awareness on the issue.

Proclamation No. 907, signed by the President on Feb. 21 but made public only on Friday, mandates the Commission on Higher Education to lead the observance of the week, and oversee activities and initiatives that promote an end to hazing and other fraternity-related violence.

In issuing the proclamation, Duterte highlighted the “alarming number” of hazing-related deaths in the country despite a law that supposedly prevents such.

“There is a need for the active participation of governmental organizations to increase awareness of the importance and value of hazing prevention,” Duterte said in his written proclamation.

President Duterte declares the second week of February of every year as “National Hazing Prevention Week” @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/ITx8lb4EN6

— Arianne Merez (@arianne_merez) February 28, 2020

All other departments and government agencies are also directed to help the CHEd. The President also urged local government units to participate in the observance of the National Hazing Prevention Week.

In 2018, the President signed into law a tougher anti-hazing measure which imposes higher penalties for those who will be found guilty of hazing.

Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 was enacted into law nearly a year since the death of hazing victim Horacio "Atio" Castillo III, a University of Santo Tomas law freshman.

The 22-year-old died of heart attack after sustaining "massive injuries" from the beating he received during the initiation rites of fraternity Aegis Juris.