ILOILO — Alarmed by a concerning rise in teenage suicides and the growing mental health risks linked to social media, the Iloilo provincial government is strengthening its frontline defense by mobilizing more than 700 youth peer helpers and teen center coordinators to detect and respond to adolescents in distress.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. underscored the critical role of young people in early intervention during the 2026 Provincial Teen Center Day at the Iloilo Convention Center on Sept. 3, describing peer helpers as the “nerve endings” of the province’s youth programs because they are often the first to recognize signs that a friend or schoolmate is struggling.
“We cannot do counseling if we do not know the problem. So you are the nerve endings of our programs. Your work is very important for national development,” Defensor stressed.
The gathering of more than 700 peer helpers and teen center coordinators came as the province confronts adolescent mental health concerns compounded by young people’s exposure to harmful and unmonitored online content.
Defensor warned that while social media and the internet have become indispensable parts of everyday life, they also expose children and teenagers to potentially damaging material.
“May mga bagay nga indi dapat naton ipakita or ipabati sa aton mga kabataan sa social media. We love social media, we love the internet, but it has its own garbage — fake news, gambling, pornography, and bullying,” the governor said.
As part of its response, the provincial government is preparing to roll out PRIMETIME, an initiative being developed with the Department of Education (DepEd) to establish structured guidelines on social media use among young people and promote healthier online habits.
National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson and Undersecretary Joseph Francisco “Jeff” Ortega also announced plans to bring a team from Meta to Iloilo to collaborate on programs promoting cyber hygiene and ethical social media use.
Ortega likewise urged young people to practice civic responsibility and become actively involved in governance.
Provincial Population Officer Atty. Ruel Von Superio said peer helpers must recognize that their role goes beyond simply assisting their fellow students.
“Sa aton mga peer helpers, you are not simply peer helpers. You are peer leaders. You are listeners. You are advocates. You are bridges to support. And most importantly, kamo ang taytay sang paglaum — you are bridges to hope,” Superio said.
The province has also steadily expanded its school-based infrastructure for adolescent support.
Iloilo’s teen center program started in 2011 by converting designated classrooms into basic guidance and peer-support hubs equipped with recreational and educational materials.
In 2023, the province began developing Teen Center 2.0 under Defensor’s Bulig Eskwela sang Probinsya (BES PROBINS) program, shifting toward modern standalone facilities with dedicated counseling spaces and psychological support resources.
The province now has 102 school-based teen centers, 21 of which are standalone Teen Center 2.0 facilities.
Superio stressed that the centers are intended to provide young people with safe environments where they can seek help and openly discuss their concerns.
“Our Teen Centers are not merely rooms or facilities. They are safe spaces for questions, spaces for guidance, spaces for healing, spaces for friendship, and spaces where dreams begin,” he said.
The Provincial Teen Center Day, themed “Empowering Youth. Inspiring Change. Building the Future,” brought together provincial officials, educators and youth development advocates./PN
