Bicam panel OKs move postponing SK elections

MANILA, Philippines - The bicameral conference committee approved on Tuesday afternoon the measure amending, Republic Act 9340, to postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on Oct. 28 this year.

The measure also provides that the next SK elections shall be conducted between Oct. 28 2014 and Feb. 23, 2015.

Section 2 of the measure also provides that SK positions shall remain vacant and that no appointment shall be made to their vacated positions until the new set of officials have been duly elected and/or qualified.

"We must specify so that hold over will not take effect. Otherwise the President will be constraint to appoint... We do not want to maintain the old system," said Sen. Ferdinand Marcos. Jr., chairman of the congressional panel.

During the bicam hearing to reconcile the two versions of the measures at the Senate, the members discussed extensively Section 4 of the measure that deals with the use of the 10 percent of the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) allocation barangays meant for SK activities.

On  use of SK funds, the bicam panel placed a provision that "until the new set of officials have been duly elected and qualified, the Sangguniang Barangay shall use the SK fund for youth development programs."

Members of the Bicam panel include: Reps. Joselito Mendoza; Francis Gerald Abaya; Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo; Fredenil Castro; Edgar Erice; Winston Castelo; Anthony del Rosario and Terry Ridon on the part of the House of Representatives; and Senators Koko Pimentel, Bam Aquino, Marcos and

JV Ejercito on part of the Senate.

In an interview, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr., welcomed the move, saying it would ease their burden on the preparations for the 2016 presidential elections.