In Time for 2015 Elections: NYC looks forward to SK Bill changes

CEBU, Philippines - The National Youth Commission (NYC)-Visayas is hoping for the immediate passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Bill in Congress in time for their celebration of the National Day of Action for SK Reform-Fix.

“There is an urgent need to pass the measure of SK Reform. The window is getting smaller as COMELEC is set up to hold elections as early as October of this year. Even if there are disagreements on the exact measures and proposals for the reforms, what we can all agree is that there is a need to fix the current system. We can’t go back to the status quo,” said Jose Rafael Cruz of NYC-Visayas.

Cruz wants to clarify the misconception of the public that the SK is abolished.

“We’ve been given a very rare opportunity to effect change in the system. The youth want to show that they can do better and for some, this is the only platform available for them,” he said.

In October last year, President Benigno Aquino III signed RA 10632 or the Act postponing the SK elections so that amendments could be formulated for the SK to become a more effective youth arm.

The SK election will push through early next year and NYC believes that it would be best if changes to the structure of the SK will be implemented.

NYC is also pushing for the passage of the Local Youth Development Empowerment Act (LYDEA) since they believe that SK has the potential to support matters related to local youth development once the youth participation reforms are institutionalized.

Further, Cruz said that while the lawmakers are the one who will deliberate the bills for reforms, what they can do is support the projects and activities of the youth in order to pass the bill.

“We are asking recommendations and we’ll be sure to take it into consideration in the deliberations in Congress,” he said. —(FREEMAN)