THE PATTERN has become all too familiar in Iloilo City: a violent incident involving minors makes the headlines, the community is shocked, officials call emergency meetings, and promises are made. Then, as soon as the public’s outrage subsides, the momentum fizzles. This reactive cycle has left the city vulnerable to the next stabbing, rumble, or street brawl — incidents that could have been prevented had there been a clear, sustained strategy in place.
Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna is right to point out that post-incident meetings, no matter how well-intentioned, are ultimately performative if they are not tied to a concrete, year-round plan with measurable goals. His warning echoes what many parents, teachers, and community leaders have long felt: Iloilo City’s fight against youth violence cannot rely on bursts of activity after the fact. It demands consistency.
The recent stabbing at Jaro Plaza and the rumble in Mandurriao district are not isolated events. They are part of an ongoing problem that Cabaluna flagged as early as February 2024, when cases of “pang–tripping” and “pang-sasko” assaults on students were already emerging. Multi-agency meetings — even those involving the Iloilo City Police Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, and barangay officials — will remain symbolic unless anchored on a published, citywide anti–youth violence framework.
This framework must go beyond vague commitments. It should outline time-bound targets, such as reducing incidents in school zones, increasing the number of functioning Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPCs), and hiring more guidance counselors to address the current shortage. These targets must be accompanied by a public scorecard — a transparent dashboard of progress (or lack thereof) that allows residents to hold both the City Hall and community stakeholders accountable.
Ilonggos have every right to demand this level of planning and transparency. Without it, the city will continue to lurch from crisis to crisis, with each new act of violence serving as a grim reminder of missed opportunities. The truth is simple: we cannot compete with the daily influences on our youth — from peer pressure to online provocations — if our interventions vanish the moment the headlines fade.
A sustained, integrated, and data-driven approach will not only make Iloilo City safer but also send a strong message to our young people: this community is watching, caring, and committed to guiding them every step of the way. Anything less will keep us trapped in the same dangerous loop — waiting for the next tragedy to spur us into action.
