The creation of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), through the Local Government Code of 1991, was meant to empower the country’s youth by giving them a direct hand in governance and decision-making in the barangay level. By providing for the mandatory allocation of barangay funds for SK-led projects and programs promoting awareness, education and action among the youth, the Code sought to ensure that the needs of young barangay constituents are serviced by their peers. To do this effectively, the Code upholds the principle of democratic representation by instituting mechanisms for the youth to annually elect their representatives to the Sangguniang Barangay.
Unfortunately, since this supposedly progressive measure was put into place, the SK as an institution has been mired with allegations of corruption and inefficient governance. Allegations range from vote-buying, gathering kickbacks from SK-initiated projects and programs, and colluding with higher barangay officials to secure their vested interests. Consequently, legislative measures have repeatedly been proposed to abolish the SK to address such allegations.
Yet it is believed that the institution as a whole should not suffer from the practices of an erring few – if indeed the few are solely culpable for such crimes related to governance. In most barangays, the SK still stands as a representative body of the youth, advancing meaningful youth participation, promoting access to education and youth employment, and struggling for the delivery of basic social services for the youth sector. If anything, what the SK needs from the legislative is not a proposal to abolish it but a proposal to strengthen it through concrete and specific reforms that directly and unequivocally tighten the loopholes in existing laws.
As such, after due consultation with the SK National Executive Board and various SK officials around the country, there's a bill created, House Bill no. 1963 respectively. Among its important aims are: to institute a uniform procedure for releasing and reviewing SK budgets, to empower the Katipunan ng Kabataan as the basic unit and consultative body of the SK, to more clearly define the procedures for succession and filling of vacancies, and to regularize training seminars for SK members. Essentially, these proposed reforms intend to return the faith of people, most especially the youth, in the SK as a genuinely representative local government unit that strives at all times to advance the rights and welfare of the Filipino youth and, concomitantly, to empower duly-elected SK officials as persons in authority to more efficiently carry out their duties and responsibilities.
In light of the foregoing, the urgent passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
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