Davao City is set to activate its Anti-Bullying Council as local officials move to strengthen enforcement of the Anti-Bullying Ordinance, prompted by rising bullying incidents and the recent school shooting in Tacloban City. Councilor Lorenzo Villafuerte, chair of the Committee on Social Services, said he requested bullying data from the City Population Division after learning that bullying remains a top concern among youth seeking help at the city's Teen Center.
Alarming Data Sparks Action
"Ever since the City Population Division shared with me the bullying data from last year and as of May this year, I became alarmed that we really need the Implementing Rules and Regulations," Villafuerte said during the Pulong Pulong sa Dabawenyos on June 30, 2026, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod. He plans to present the data to Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte and recommend convening the Anti-Bullying Council to bolster enforcement, especially with Bullying Prevention Month approaching in October.
According to Villafuerte, the council would monitor unresolved bullying cases and ensure schools comply with existing reporting mechanisms. "Some schools here resort to hiding their cases of bullying. Maybe because they do not want to damage their reputation. We do not know the exact reason. But these cases should be reported," he said.
Barangay-Level Help Desks Proposed
Villafuerte added that the city is also pushing for the creation of anti-bullying help desks in every barangay once the IRR is finalized, giving victims another avenue for reporting unresolved cases. "If we are able to finalize the IRR and provide funding for every barangay, victims whose cases remain unresolved in schools or workplaces will have somewhere they can seek help," he explained.
He emphasized that the ordinance aims to help children reform rather than simply punish them. "The goal of our Anti-Bullying Ordinance is not to punish children but to give them an opportunity to reform and become better people," Villafuerte said.
Statistics Highlight the Problem
Data from the City Population Division showed that in 2025, the Teen Center recorded 2,336 male and 3,392 female clients seeking assistance for bullying-related concerns. As of May 2026, the center recorded 98 male and 101 female cases, with children aged 14 years old and below accounting for the highest number of reported cases.
Villafuerte expressed hope that reported bullying incidents will continue to decline as the city strengthens information campaigns and fully implements the Anti-Bullying Ordinance through the proposed Anti-Bullying Council. HANNAH MICAELLA ALBINO/SPAMAST, SUNSTAR DAVAO INTERN
