DILG-7 to hold regional public consultation on SK

CEBU, Philippines -  The Department of Interior and Local Government has scheduled a consultation on whether or Sangguniang Kabataan should be reformed or abolished.

DILG-7 director Ananias Villacorta said that the regional consultation will be held on August 27 at 1 p.m.  at the Ecotech Center in Sudlon, Lahug.

Villacorta said that the consultation is to be done for the purpose of coming up with a “region-specific manifesto or position paper” in response to the clamor to either abolish or reform the SK program.

Villacorta said that the League of Provinces wanted to abolish SK but the Municipal Mayors League opted to reform it instead. According to Villacorta, a public consultation on the matter was already held in Luzon.

The regional consultations are also aimed at eliciting region-specific views and generate broad consensus on the following: categorical support or non-support to either reform or abolition of the SK; and as a consequence of the former, whether or not to push through with the SK elections in October 2013.

“Naa sad uban opinion nga ilahi ang SK elections sa barangay elections. Nagkalain lain gyud ang opinion sa mga tawo. Whatever outcome sa consultations, it will be forwarded to the Office of the President,” Villacorta said.

The DILG is expecting 50 representatives from youth organizations, 20 representatives from the different leagues and sanggunian, 12 oversight agencies and non-government agencies in youth development, 32 representatives from the local government units, 16 congressmen and representatives from the media. —(FREEMAN)