Senate ratifies measure postponing SK elections

CEBU, Philippines - The Senate ratified yesterday the bicameral conference committee report for the measure amending Republic Act 9340, which effectively postpones the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled on Oct. 28.

With one abstention and a no vote, the Senate approved the measure, whose salient points include a provision that the next SK elections shall be conducted between Oct. 28, 2014 and Feb. 23, 2015 and that there will be no holdover capacity for the incumbent SK officials until the next election is set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

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 holdover will not take effect. Otherwise the President will be constrained to appoint. We do not want to maintain the old system,” said Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chairman of the congressional panel and head of the Senate committee on local governments.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. welcomed the move, saying it would ease their burden on the preparations for the 2016 presidential elections.

The poll body was wary that the SK has only been a breeding ground for political dynasty and exposing the youth to corruption and the practice of traditional politicians to mishandle government funds.

During the plenary debates, Sen. Francis Escudero set on record his position that the no-holdover capacity would technically abolish the SK since there will be no youth officials to speak off until the next elections. 

Escudero had batted for reforms, instead of the abolition of the SK.

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

 On the 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.”

The Comelec had pushed for the postponement of the SK election on belief that it has not been serving its purpose of providing the youth a training ground on governance. 

Comelec to save millions

With the SK election’s postponement, the Comelec will save around P40 million.

Comelec Cebu Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano explained that they would save a lot from the printing of campaign paraphernalia.

SK federation and ex-officio Provincial Board Member Alladin Caminero said he respects the decision of the bicameral committee.

Caminero said as elected officials, it is also their responsibility to respect those in authority who make decisions.

He also called on other members of the youth sector to respect the Congress’ decision. 

Dismayed

The Cebu City SK Federation president felt dismayed over the postponement of the elections.

Councilor John Philip Po said with this development, the youth would be left voiceless in governance.

He added that the postponement is tantamount to abolishing the youth organization.

“To me this is already a way of abolishing SK and the worst part is there will be no youth representation while this happens. It would have been okay if there was an alternative for youth representation but to what I have read there is none. Now we’re just waiting whether the president will sign or not,” Po said.   

He is particularly concerned about the no holdover rule, which means the SK seats will be left vacant, leaving the youth sector unrepresented.

The same disappointment was also expressed by Councilor Alvin Dizon, a former youth leader.

“Personally, I’m not in favor of the abolition of SK. It is actually instituted under the local government unit code for the youth to participate in governance. It is a venue to develop leadership skills,” said Dizon, who was involved in the first SK elections during the time of the late president Corazon Aquino.

He, however, acknowledged that the youth organization has been penetrated by corruption, calling its leaders “trapolitos” or little trapos (traditional politicians).

“Nindot ang balaud. Nasudlan lang gyud og patronage politics. Pero makaya pa man og resuscitate. I am not for abolition but reform,” Dizon said.

Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, respects the decision of Congress in postponing the SK elections.

“If that is the voice of the people, let that voice be respected. But I wish they go down to the bottom to consultative discussion with their constituencies. Overall, there is really a need to relook, revisit the system. It is about time that lawmakers look into this,” Rama told reporters.

But the mayor clarified that while he is in favor of the postponement, he is against the abolition of SK.

“I don’t want it abolished but insulated,” Rama said. - Philippine Star News Service, AJ de la Torre and Jessa J. Agua/LPM