SK-Visayas hits propriety of Visayas-wide assembly

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the expressed dissent of youth leaders from the Visayas, the national executive board (NEB) of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) still insisted on holding a Visayas-wide assembly to the surprise and disappointment of the Visayas officials.

SK regional director for Central Visayas Scott Wayne Husain of La Libertad, Negros Oriental told The Freeman that he felt insulted when suddenly, without considering their opposition to the activity, the proposal for the holding of the assembly was carried on motion of an NEB member from Luzon.

Thea Mae Dino of Victoria City, SK Federation vice president for the Visayas, clarified that the Visayas leaders were not opposed to the assembly, but it would have been better had the SK-Fed here was consulted and given a freehand on organizing the assembly.

After all, the assembly was supposed to be an activity of SKs in the Visayas, said Dino, and echoed by SK-Region 6 director Bob Augusto Legaspi of Makato, Aklan.

“As presidents of our regions, we could not promise the attendance of our constituents since we didn’t undergo proper consultation. We can help you with that (inter-regional assembly) but we’re not sure kasi,” Legaspi said during the 2nd NEB meeting of the SK National Federation held at the National Youth Commission office in Quezon City last week.

Husain said it was obvious that the national president and his staff have already planned out the event as they already have a venue and date. The sad thing is that the Visayas officials were not consulted on the matter beforehand, he said.

Husain also said that, based on the constitution and by-laws of SK organizations, there are only four general assemblies that could be organized: national congress, regional congress, metropolitan or provincial congress, and the city or municipal congress.

SK National Federation president Louise Gabriel Del Rosario of Bagac, Bataan however argued that just because the joint regional assembly is not in the constitution, doesn’t make the assembly illegal. He said the Visayas assembly is urgent because they must come up with a manifesto calling for reforms in the SK and opposing the proposed abolition of the organization.

“Yung time natin konting konti na lang, hihintayin pa ba natin na ma-abolish ang SK bago tayo mag-assembly at makakuha ng manifesto?” he countered.

Legaspi however contradicted this: “If he (Del Rosario) can’t wait to come up with a manifesto, then why won’t he call instead for a national congress, which he is mandated to do? Besides, this joint-regional assembly is a waste of government funds and unnecessary.”

Husain also opposed the adoption of a resolution that would recognize the earlier-held Luzon-wide assembly, because this was not discussed by the NEB. “It was moot and academic (because it was already held last March),” he said.

Contending that it was only of late that they became aware of such requirement from the DILG would not be an excuse, said Husain. “The whole executive body must be informed, it must be discussed, and we must come up with a paper, a resolution indicating that the body approved the assembly first,” he said.

“This is the reason why there are people who wants us abolished because there is a lack of transparency in the activities of the national office, making these activities highly questionable. Even members of the board were not aware of these so-called ‘national activities’ of our president,” he said, adding that he is now reviewing the expenses of the Luzon-wide assembly held in Olongapo City, Zambales.

Husain asked the SKNF to present and explain to the group the expenses incurred in that assembly, contending that he would agree to support a Visayas-wide convention unless the money of the previous assembly was properly liquidated. – THE FREEMAN