DAVAO CITY – Local officials here expressed opposition to the proposed abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Alvarez recently revealed that they are considering the abolition of the SK and the barangay kagawads (councilors) as part of the rationalization of government functions.
The House Speaker said SK officials and barangay councilors get paid for so little work, and some don’t even work at all.
“Ang nagtatrabaho yung barangay captains. Alam mo sasabihin ko ito kahit maraming magalit sa akin na barangay kagawad. Kasi nga ayusin natin yung ating bansa (It is the barangay captains who do the work. I will say this even if many barangay councilors will get mad at me. We need to fix our country),” he said.
Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said the SK plays a significant part in implementing government programs on sports and cleanliness.
“The youths are very active, especially in their community involvement. We just hope that the elected SK chair will not corrupt his position,” he said.
Duterte also said barangay councilors are needed in the deliberation and the passage of laws in the barangay.
Voice in gov’t
Meanwhile, Councilor April Marie Dayap, a former SK Federation President, said she opposes the proposal, saying the SK gives the youth sector “voice in governance” that is needed in crafting laws.
Dayap admitted that SK has flaws, but said the new SK Reform Law has good features. Various criticisms against the SK included inefficiency and corruption.
Dayap said the new law is comprehensive and includes an anti-dynasty provision.
“I don’t favor the abolition of SK. We always push for the reforms of the SK as an institution,” she said.
Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 also raised the age requirement of youth officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old.
It also states that SK officials must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official in the locality where he or she seeks to be elected.
Dayap said the efficiency of the new law is not yet tested due to the postponement of the SK elections. Both the Senate and House of Representatives agreed to postpone the elections from October this year to October 2017.
Continuing training
Councilor Diosdado Mahipus said instead of abolishing the SK and the barangay councilors, the government should educate and conduct trainings for them.
“Parte pa gyud sa continuing training ang education. Kami ganing mga abugado naa mi mandatory legal education how much more for the youth? (Education is part of a continuing training. Even lawyers have mandatory legal education, how much more for the youth),” he said.
Mahipus said that the government has not sponsored leadership training for the youth officials.
“Let us fortify, let us strengthen the leadership training ability of these people, by educating them even through seminars,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
