Pro, anti SK in Central Visayas face off

CEBU, Philippines - Should the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) be abolished or simply needs to be reformed?

Barely two months before the Barangay and SK polls on October 28, pro and anti-abolition groups met during a consultation for Region 7 organized by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) at the Ecotech Center yesterday.

Those who are pushing for abolition said SK no longer serves its purpose - that is, instead of being a training ground for future leaders, it has become a breeding ground for corruption.

This is reportedly because after the candidates win in an SK election, it is allegedly their parents or the barangay officials that take over. In the first place, they said, relatives of barangay officials should not have been allowed to run for an SK position to keep the SK's independence.

They also alleged that projects initiated by SK have no impact and government can save money without them.

Meanwhile, those pushing for reforms are proposing a psychological consultation among those interested to run for an SK position. They are also proposing that SK funds be separate from the funds of the barangay and that relatives of incumbent barangay officials up to the third degree should not be allowed to run.

The pro-reform group observed that the youth are not properly oriented about the SK and that accomplishments of the SK are not being published. Many SK officials are reportedly not attending meetings.

At present, those who can run for an SK position are those who are at least 15 years old and at most 17 years old.  There are proposals to change the maximum age to 18 years old.

DILG-7 Assistant Director Elias Fernandez, Jr. said they will forward the results of the consultation to DILG Secretary Mar Roxas.

National Youth Commission Undersecretary Leon Flores said the commission is pushing for the postponement of the SK election.

"We want that the SK election be desynchronized from the barangay election and we need a separate law on that. We hope Congress can immediately pass the law before October," Flores said.

NYC itself is against abolishing the SK, saying it is  a necessary and crucial institution for youth involvement and governance. It regards the SK as an important center of youth leadership wherein young citizens can be empowered to take on the bigger task of participating in nation-building. – (FREEMAN)