Carillo wants SK reforms before polls

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo wanted major changes should be in place before another Sangguniang Kabataan elections should be done.

“Para nako, kung di na ma revise ang SK, it’s an exercise of futility (sic),” Carillo said.

Carillo cited his own barangay, Pahina San Nicolas, which has around 6,000 registered voters, and added that around the same number of the population are the youth.

“Of these 6,000 only 60 registered. Will you call that the representation of the youth? I don’t think this will work. The government is just wasting money. I hope the legislators realize that the youth should be genuinely represented,” Carillo said.

He, however, clarified that he is not also in favor of the total abolition of the SK system. In fact, he is pushing for the amendment to the age range of the SK eligible voters and officials.

From the 15 to 17 years old coverage, he wanted to raise the age limit up to 30 years old as he found wiser judgment and maturity in terms of handling public service that comes with age.

“I am not making a hasty conclusion that those in the younger bracket are not capable of handling politics and public service. I am just recognizing the fact nga magamit sila sa mga dagko na nga mga politiko. If SK is not revised, then it means a waste of resources and not a true voice of the youth,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has made it clear that only registered members of SK can file an opposition to the applications for registration of their fellow would-be voters.

“Kining mga dagko, di sila mag-apil-apil. Only registered members can question the applications,” said lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, provincial election officer.

The registration for SK elections in February 2015 ended Monday, September 29, with a total registrants of 126, 731 including the 83,970 qualified voters who registered from July 22 – 31 for the SK polls originally scheduled in October last year.

In the latest collated data of the Comelec, the last day of registration recorded the highest turnout which was expected by the commission. Comelec reported that the turnout of registrants for 2015 SK elections is higher than that in 2010 with a total of 101,142.— (FREEMAN)