EDITORIAL: ‘Discipline’ hours train minors to proper conduct

Imposition of curfew hours for minors, those below 18 years old, is becoming a trending in cities purposely to protect the younger population from danger or risks in open environment at late nights when they are supposed to be home. Curfew also deters crime when the youths are easy preys to vices, evil influences, and gangsterism which could lead to violence.

In Cotabato City, our Sangguniang Panlungsod passed Ordinance 4529 or the Discipline Ordinance of Cotabato City. The term “discipline” is used instead of curfew since the drafters consider the former as friendlier. Discipline hours, when approved by the city mayor, would run from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Discipline, other than academic connotation, is associated with development of character or indulging into a training that begets a positive pattern of behavior. It is likened to resisting street sub-culture where a youth may indulge into deviant acts because of influences or exposure to evil ways in the absence of parental or adult supervision. The minors are better off at home in the evenings for productive activities that could help develop the “self.” The family itself should be innovative to make the sibs productive rather than idle through the nights outside the home gates. Curfew in the long run when becoming integrative into lifestyle makes a person a disciplined social being as one values the essence of time. At home during curfew hours, the family itself becomes the “barkadas” with whom inter-personal relationship is blossomed.

In moments of discipline hours, the parents and/or guardians become the implementors of curfew as they regulate and check the movements of minors. Out in the open are the barangay governments supposed to look into the welfare of the youths by keeping them out of bad influences. Rigid enforcement of the curfew ordinance and no-nonsense execution of penalties for violation could help re-enforce discipline which begets positive pattern of behavior.

Let the discipline ordinance work than in letters only. We don’t want the minors to be the litters of society but rather the future of the fatherland. Discipline is a very positive value because it disposes an individual to proper conduct of behavior. (MINDANAO EXPOSE’)