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Aquino stands pat on SK abolition
By GENALYN KABILING, LESLIE ANN G. AQUINOAugust 15, 2010, 4:47pm
President Aquino is standing pat on his proposal to abolish the old and inefficient system of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in the country as part of the government’s reform agenda, according to a Palace official.
Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma said he hopes the public would recognize that the welfare and concerns of the Filipino youth could still be advanced and protected without necessarily electing a youth council.
Coloma made the remarks after some lawmakers and youth groups criticized the President for depriving the youth to participate in nationbuilding if the bill on the abolition of SK polls will be approved by Congress.
The President has endorsed the holding of the barangay elections this October but wants the SK abolished to save government costs. He has certified as urgent a bill seeking the election of a single youth representative in the youth council on October 25 as well as synchronization of the national, local, and barangay polls 2013.
“We have a lot of experience to determine if the SK elections have been effective or not. We must recognize that there are new realities. Just because it is tradition or culture that we have been used to, it doesn’t mean that’s the only thing we should follow,” Coloma said over government radio.
“The President was elected into office with a huge mandate for change and this (abolition of SK) is one of the areas we can consider an area of change,” he added.
Coloma also explained that the election of the youth council is not the only method in which the welfare of the youth could be promoted, citing the President’s platform of improving the country’s education system is intended to promote a better future for the youth. “I think we should widen our beliefs that SK is not the only infrastructure or representation of the youth that could show what the government does for them,” he said.
As this developed, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento Sunday said he is supporting the abolition of the SK.
Sarmiento said that he agrees with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to abolish the SK.
“The proposal of Secretary Robredo is good. I am for it,” he declared.
The poll official said SK should be abolished, stressing that it is not a good training ground for young people. “The young learn early about the bad side of politics like commissions in contracts and projects,” said Sarmiento.
He said he is also convinced that the young would have difficulty in combining their studies and their political career.
“It’s difficult to combine studies and political career,” Sarmiento said.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) submitted on Thursday a draft measure to Malacañang, calling for the abolition of the SK and the election of a youth representative in the October 25 elections, citing the group’s failure to be functional and effective in the delivery of public services under the Local Government Code.
Robredo said the draft measure will seek to repeal Section 423 to 439 of the Local Government Code that will, in effect, totally abolish the Katipunan ng Kabataan or the SK., and the amendment of Section 387 (a) and 390 of the same Code to include a youth representative in the barangay who will be elected at large by the youth aged 15 years old but less than 18 years old during the barangay elections.
The draft measure is expected to be certified as urgent or a priority bill by the President.
Relatedly, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez Sunday said the barangay elections will push through even if the SK would be abolished.
Jimenez said the barangay elections will not be affected if the SK elections will be scrapped since the two are not dependent on each other. “We’ll still hold the barangay polls. They are not dependent on each other. It just so happens that they are synchronized,” he said.
Jimenez, however, said he would rather that the SK elections will not be abolished to give the people especially the youth the opportunity to vote.
“Personally, I would say let’s go on with it because that will give everyone especially the youth the chance to vote and participate in the process of governance,” he said.
But Jimenez said the decision on whether to scrap or not the SK polls or even the postponement of the barangay and SK elections is up to the lawmakers and not on them.
“If you want to extend, scrap or reform the SK in any way it’s not us that you should talk to. Talk to Congress. We just do the elections and I think these people know that,” he said.
“Whatever they tell us in hearing even if they say we have to re-schedule that, we would still not act on that because that’s still not a law,” added Jimenez.
As far as the Comelec is concerned, he said, they would still go ahead with their preparations for the October 25 polls. “We will not do anything differently unless there’s a law,” Jimenez said.
The poll body is expected to meet Monday with Senate and Congress to discuss the proposal to postpone the barangay and SK elections to a later date.
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Are you for SK abolition or reform?
By RACHEL BARAWID, KEAVY VICENTE, IRIS ABARQUEZAugust 25, 2010, 12:09pm
“The proposed abolition is an exaggeration. Our group recognizes the weaknesses of the SK system which is the reason why we filed House Bill 1963, Sangguniang Kabataan Strengthening
and Reform Act. Indeed, there is corruption in the bureaucracy from the national to the local levels. Political dynasties are also extending their nefarious sphere of influence down to the SK level. (Trapo for adults and Bimbo for young politicians – Batang Itinulak ng Magulang sa Pulitika). The idealism of the youth is wasted when SK leaders mutate into young trapo monsters. But we have been bad role models for SK leaders. Instead of teaching them the principles of good governance, we have only exposed them to the worst features of politics. If corruption, ineffectiveness, and promotion of political dynasties are cited as the reasons to abolish the SK, there are equally deserving government agencies, both local and national, which should be abolished as well,” – Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Palatino.
“I am not in favor of the abolition of SK because the youth are the catalysts of change and they should be given a chance to be involved in nation building,” – Senator Miguel Zubiri.
“I’m not in favor. Ang SK ang nakakakita at nakapagbibigay ng needs ng kabataan. Ang mas maganda siguro, i-develop na lang natin yung SK. Minsan kasi, ang alam lang ng mga tao kapag SK, pa-liga. Pagyamanin nalang natin ang kaalaman ng SK,” – Luis Asistio III, 4th Year Political Science,president, Student Organizations Coordinating Council, UST
“Pabor ako sa pag-abolish ng SK kasi sa ngayon hindi ko naman sila nararamdaman. Kahit na sabihin pa nating may mga programa sila, hindi pa rin sapat para bigyan sila ng mga benefits. Lalo pa ngayon, nababalitaan ko na laganap na ang corruption sa SK. Sa tingin ko, dagdag lang sila sa mga future politicians na wala naman ding magandang ibibigay sa Pilipinas,” – Mary Jane Medina, 19, 4th year Communication Arts, UST
“Hindi ako pabor sa pag-abolish ng SK kasi sa tingin ko, mawawalan ng paraan yung mga kabataan na magbigay ng ideya tungkol sa mga problema natin. Isa pa, iba din ang focus ng mga mambabatas natin,” – Irene Kristine Lukban, 20, 4th Year BS Biology, Ateneo de Manila University
“The youth have an equal right to be represented and to be heard in important national and local issues. The needs of the youth also differ from the other groups. Without an official representative from the group itself, there is only a little chance that these will be addressed by the government. Government should just think of ways to improve SK to enhance the potentials and skills of the Filipino youth.” – Angela May Caguitla, 20, 4th year BS-Public Health, UP Manila
“I understand the points presented by PNoy, and I agree with him. In our community, I have never felt the presence of the SK. I haven’t even heard about an activity from them. I think that the budget allotted to them is more than enough. What’s disturbing is that even if the SK exists, the youth is not developing. There are still minors who engage in drugs while some commit crimes. I ran for SK kagawad when I was 17, and that was because the line-up of one group is not complete. With that, I think that sincerity is also an issue. The youth would not get the motivation they need if their leaders are not sincere. At 17, I actually cannot decide to reject the offer since a position in the local government would be exciting. What the SK needs right now is
a reorganization, not abolition. The SK needs to review their rules and structure because they are not effective as they should have been.,” – Yoshiko Zoe De Villa, 19, IV-ChE, DLSU
“I’m not in favor of abolishing the SK. Instead, laws should be passed to empower it, laws that would actually give them a say in their communities. I believe that they shouldn’t be limited to just initiating plans and programs for the youth, they should be involved in making decisions that would affect the whole community. To develop our society, we must understand one another and look at each other’s perspective,” – Kevin A. Santos, 19, 4th year Journalism, UST
“I am in favor of the proposal to abolish the SK. I’ve lived 20 years and until now I never had any idea on what the SK does. So the name speaks for the youngsters to participate in government or to advocate their rights, then what? I think that the importance of education still matters more than the issue of SK. I think its best to redirect the attention of the youth to what they really need, quality education,” – Lucero Kristian Renz G., 20, first year student, FEU-EAC
Despite mixed views of government officials on the effectivity of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), voter registration for the election of officials in the youth and barangay councils pushed through today.
Today is the last day of registration for the barangay polls, while the deadline for participation in the youth council, or SK, elections is August 15.
Pending any move by Congress, said GMANews.tv, the polls will ensue on October 25.
Registration was reset from August 1-10 to August 4-13, in order to allow for training of field personnel who will install and use Data Capturing Machines in the registration.
'Not effective'
The Department of Interior and Local Government earlier proposed to abolish the SK, with Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo saying the youth council "has not proven itself to be functional and effective in delivering services to the community," reported Inquirer.net.
If approved, the DILG bill will replace the SK with a single youth representative during the October elections.
In an editorial, the Philippine Star said that the barangay and youth council systems, while ideally supposed and able to take care of concerns at the lowest level of government, aren't working in many parts of the country, "particularly in Metro Manila and other urban centers."
The editorial claimed that the system is a waste of taxpayer money, and should be overhauled, if not abolished entirely.
Legislators seem to be taking the debate seriously, if not only because of the cost to push ahead with the elections and the money needed to fund the operations of the councils.
According to Inquirer.net, House of Representatives leaders said Thursday that even if the elections were still to push through in October, the bill proposing abolition would have to be considered, and a measure amending the laws implemented.
The House is considering the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.
Youth leaders, however, are against total abolition. Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino asserted that the SK system should be strengthened instead.
"Aquino [by supporting the abolition of the SK] is depriving the youth of a venue which lets them stand up and participate in nation-building. The Philippines is the first and only country with a structure such as the SK," Palatino said.
Congress is set to conduct hearings on the postponement of the polls next week.
In order to register, voters must present any identification documents such as:
1. Current employee’s identification (ID) card, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;
2. Postal ID;3. Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority;4. Senior Citizen’s ID;5. Driver’s license;6. NBI/PNP clearance;7. Passport;8. SSS/GSIS ID;9. Licenses issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); or10. Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID
If the said IDs are not available, the applicant must be identified under oath by any registered voter of the precinct, or by any relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity who are registered in the same city or municipality. (For more information, click here to go to the Comelec website, or here to go to Blog Watch)
How detainees can vote
Allegations of corruption by inefficient, ineffective, and non-performing Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials have caused mounting calls for its abolition from various sectors and officials, including no less than President Benigno Aquino, Jr. himself, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Ironically, the very author of Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code (LGC) which created the SK in 1991, is also pushing for SK’s demise. Former Senator Aquilino Pimentel, on his last term, filed a bill proposing its abolition. Former Cavite Rep. Gilbert Remulla filed a similar bill in 2004.
But the SK National Federation (NF) and the SK Reform Coalition are not taking this sitting down, making a last-ditch effort to salvage what’s left of the youth organization.
SKNF president Jane Censoria Cajes, for instance, has been doing the rounds of TV shows, defending SK. SK Reform Coalition convenor Marlon Cornelio also sought a dialogue with Sec. Robredo.
Fortunately for the SK community, the dialogue resulted to a change in Robredo’s stand, from that of abolition to reform.
During the meeting last Tuesday, Robredo and the SK Reform Coalition have agreed on the necessary reforms that should be undertaken.
As of presstime, the barangay and SK elections in October will push through, but Cornelio says DILG hopes to have its proposal on reducing the number of SK officials from eight (one chairman and seven kagawad), to only one youth representative, approved in time for the elections.
PIONEERING The Philippines is so far, the only country in the world which has given its youth the
opportunity to take a participative role in government through the SK. An offshoot of the Kabataang Barangay of the ‘70s, the SK is a governing body where youth, aged 15 to 18 years old, may register to vote and be voted in the SK.
The SK chairman gets a salary while the seven councilors (kagawad) that form the council have no salaries but are required to serve voluntarily for three years. They approve resolutions of the Sanggunian and appropriate the money allotted to the council. Marinelle Formentera, SK City Federation president of Paranaque says the SK gets 10 percent of the budget of the barangay.
“Pag malaki ang barangay malaki din ang budget ng SK. Tulad namin sa NCR, P2.9 million ang budget ng barangay namin, so 10 percent nun ang sa SK. Pero nakalaan naman ang parts ng budget for our programs, like 10 percent for green brigade, 10 percent for infrastructure, and so on,” explains Formentera, 19.
PRONE TO CORRUPTION Due to loopholes in the system, the SKNF is calling for reform. One major loophole, Cajes says, is the 15 to 18 age bracket for those who can vote and
run as SK officials. The original age of those who can register and vote used to be 15 to 18 while candidates
for the SK posts were from 18 to 21. She says for those who can run for SK posts, the COMELEC lowered the age bracket in 2004 from 18 to 21, to 15 to 18 years old.
“We felt that this was a bad move. Masyadong bata yung mga SK officials, nasa high school pa sila at madaling maimpluwensiyahan ng pulitiko. Kadalasan nagagamit kami
ng mga barangay captains at pulitiko kasi may boses kami sa council. We cannot sign contracts because we are minors, so it’s the barangay chairman who does it for us. Pag yung kapitan may gustong pabor, iniipit yung SK at hindi magbibigay ng budget. Kawawang SK walang magawa kundi pumayag na lang,” laments Cajes, 20.
Both SKNF and Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino says electing only one youth representative in the barangay would make them prone to engage in corrupt and anomalous activities because of the absence of a check and balance mechanism provided by the kagawads.
“It doesn’t solve anything. The single youth representative, who is now not accountable to a youth council, can be more easily seduced by corruption practices because he is now alone; and most likely he/she could still belong to a dynasty. Since the youth representative will be voted at large by barangay residents, we will force that kid to adopt the campaign tactics of adults in order to garner enough votes to win in the election,” Rep. Palatino says.
USELESS? On the allegation that SKs are doing nothing but hold sports activities, Cajes says that is
because sports is part of their mandate. Then there is the issue on the SK representatives neglecting their studies. “I believe that all SK officials are mostly academic achievers. When they run in the SK
they know the responsibilities that go with it. Usually, we sacrifice our studies to be able to serve our constituents. ‘Yung school andiyan lang yan. Hindi kami iiwan. Pero yung SK tatlong taon lang kami magsasakripisyo para matulungan ang kapwa naming kabataan,” says Cajes, a senior European Studies student at the Ateneo de Manila University. She has taken a leave of absence from AdMU to concentrate on her task as SKNF president, but is taking courses at the UP Open University.
Despite the change of heart of President Aquino and Sec. Robredo on the issue, former Sen. Pimentel is still firm in his position.
“While I was in the Senate I received hundreds of requests complaining about the SK, na walang silbi, walang concrete (project, law) silang nagawa. Most of them are even studying far from their barangays, so in effect they can no longer do their job because they have to be in school most of the time,” reveals Pimentel who is in favor of only one youth representative.
SK IS A UNIQUE SYSTEM The SKNF strongly deny this, stating that many SKs are actually implementing projects
that benefit both the youth and adults. For instance, Formentera has authored an ordinance in her barangay, allocating P500,000
for an educational assistance program. The program provides P1,200 weekly allowance for poor students. More than 40 bystanders, meanwhile, have graduated from the Alternative Learning System program for out-of-school youth.
In the SKNF, Cajes says they give P100,000 to 20 pilot provinces that implement environmental projects.
“There is an SK who rehabilitated their river. In Lucena, the SK bought a multi-cab to use for collecting garbage. In Cagayan de Oro, they regularly hold debates and dialogues during the Youth Week. In Paranaque, they planted mangroves in the river. In my province in Bohol, 10 day care centers were built by youth groups of the Volunteers Club
through our funds. We also provide health and medical assistance to both young and old people.”
In 2007, a study was commissioned by the United Nations Children’s Fund and DILGILGILG to determine SK’s impact in the local government process. The study, made by researchers of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies Program on Psychosocial Trauma revealed that “abolishing the SK will not serve the best interest of children and young people nor will it shield them from the negative influences of politics and politicians. It will only destroy a unique system and a mechanism that has great potential for youth participation in governance and community service.”
SK REFORMS Among the reforms proposed by the SK Reform Coalition and Akbayan Youth to Sec.
Robredo are the need to increase the age bracket of the youth who can vote and be elected from 15-18 to 15-25; the election of a youth representative who will serve as a councilor in the barangay council, from ex-officio to regular membership; the creation of a youth development council composed of youth organizations in the barangay to serve as civil society partner and substitute for the SK kagawads, to ensure greater participation and check and balance; the incorporation of an anti-dynasty provision to limit politicization of the youth rep; fiscal autonomy and accountability on the youth fund; and incorporation of accountability mechanisms and ground for removal from office.
Just before I came here in UK I've been a part of Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council); I served as Sangguniang Kabataan Barangay kagawad for about a year. So I guess, I have a say on regards to a plan of it's abolition.
On my personal and straight forward analysis and observations, YES, I agree with the general
argument of present leaders who pursue a plan of abolishing SK, 'Sangguniang Kabataan breeds corruption and trains some youngsters to be future corrupt leaders.' By just looking only at some previous and recent SK, there's no proper 'representation,' no youth development, and some SK officials are only running for sake of 'sahod' and benefits as an official; discount on tuition, title 'honourable' and 'trip and holiday'. Isn't that corruption??
Sangguniang Kabataan is governing body, a youth legislature that suggests/initiates/creates
regulations, programs, policies for development of youth. But looking only at your local SK, those things isn't happening, rather, the typical understanding of some SK members of policies and programs are pageant, basketball liga, and clean&green.
And almost every year, these SK leaders attend congresses/trainings and often times, these
trainings are held at Baguio, Tagaytay, or just in luxury hotel in your local area. But my question is, what happens after the training/congress?? Nothing. The sad fact is, some SK leaders attend congress for sake of training allowances and travelling. That again is corruption.
But given those flaws and errors of some, I blame not the youth, not the SK leaders of what they
are doing, because they only reflect what the elders are doing as well and still, SK still serves as a representative body of kabataan. If there's a problem, it's not the Sangguniang Kabataan but the ones handling the SK; the local government, the present system. and if ever they abolish SK, it still won't solve the problem of corruption. What we need is proper management/guidance of youth, strengthening the youth and a reform act.
-End
here have been persistent calls for the abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). Most Recently, Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., the author of Local Government Code that reinvented SK from KB, has been in the fore by filling SB 2155 seeking the abolition of SK. In the 13th Congress, on the other hand, Sen. Pimentel filled SB 1126 which called for SK reform.
“Abolish SK!” seems to be popular. What are the arguments for SK abolition? One, SK is considered as a breeding ground of corrupt leaders. Two, SK officials are non-performing (assets) or have insignificant contribution to the community; most of their projects are building waiting sheds and signages, sports fests or paliga. Three, SK officials cannot perform their function as they have to attend schools (or SK officials have to cut schooling just to perform their functions). And four, they are just too young, easily corrupted and irresponsible.
Marlon Cornelio is the chairman of the Youth Governance and Participation Committee, Youth
and Students Sector of National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC YS)Who are the proponents of SK Abolition? The Federation of Students has released a manifesto calling for the abolition of SKs claiming that SK officers discard school in exchange for salaries and perks offered by weekly city, municipal and provincial council sessions (Cabreza, 2007). Mayors too, according to Mayor Ramon Guico, League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) president, are for abolition but “do not openly speak [about the issue] because of political reasons” (Sotelo-Fuertes, 2007). Senator Pimentel has filled his SK abolition bill in the Senate. Several SK Abolition bills have also been filled in the House of Representatives. Are there Alternatives to SK? Given these arguments are sufficient to abolish SK, what are the alternatives? There are proposals for total abolition of SKs. These proposals argue that school council/government is a sufficient venue for the youth to participate in governance and train in becoming the future leaders of the land. On the other hand, other proposals still see the significance of youth participation in elections and “actual” governance. Thus, if SK is to be abolished there should be a replacement mechanism. Senator Pimentel’s SB 2155 proposes for the election of youth councilors instead of the other proposals for mayors/governors to appoint them. This according to Senator Pimentel would not give opportunity for politicking. Youth representative (councilor) will be directly elected by their peers at the same time as the city mayors and councilors are elected. The other side: SK reform. Advocates of SK Reform do not dispute the observations posted by those calling for abolition.
They too see that SKs are not performing; SK has become the breeding ground for new trapos; SK officials are in a dilemma between going to school or cutting schooling to perform their function. The difference lies in how to address these problems. They see these as very serious issues/concerns but not too the point that it merits SK abolition. What are their rebuttals? That the SK is a breeding ground for corruption means that the SK officials are not inherently corrupt. It points out to the fact that the environment to which the SK now is situated is the one’s causing the breeding of new trapos. The answer therefore is to clean up the environment and not abolish SK which is ideally a venue for on-the-job training for good governance and principled leadership for the Filipino youth at the grassroots level. Akbayan has introduced an anti-dynasty provision in its SK reform bill which most congressmen agree to. That the SKs are non-performing or have insignificant program/projects can be attributed to the lack of support and guidance they get from their elders. SK was not put up for the youth officials to live on their own. The SKs do not know their roles and responsibilities and neither do most of local government officials that limit SKs to beautification and sports projects. There are model SKs to talk of all over the country, both in rural and urban areas. What is common in these model SKs is the presence of guidance and support from the local government and non-governmental organizations. SKs are definitely in dilemma of choosing between attending schools or council sessions. This problem sprout out after the Congress passed Republic Act 9164 in 2002, which reduced the age range of KK and SK eligible youth to 15 to below 18 from 21. This has amendment was made in the bicameral committee without prejudice to the age where which the youth are still in secondary schools. If the age bracket were higher, the elected SKs would have been in college and with more control over their schedule and academic load. Finally, those who belittle the young will have to read up more on the role of youth in our history and nation building. They will have to be refreshed on the International Rights of Children. What should we do now? There are many proposals to address the problems that the SKs are facing. In the 13th Congress, there where more than 5 bills both in the House of Representatives and Senate. These legislative remedies however proved to be arduous. While the battle for abolition for reform versus abolition was mainly in Congress, SK reform advocates failed to recognize that there are reforms that can be done which will dramatically change the bad face of SK on the ground. As the problems all point out, and as was found out in the national SK Study funded by UNICEF and spearheaded by DILG NBOO and NAPC Youth and Students Sector, the SKs need support and guidance for them to succeed. They need proper orientation on their functions and how to go
about with them. They need trainings and capability/capacity building programs down at the grassroots level.
The only way for the SKs to stop the mounting calls for abolition is for them to start working and working good, removing reasons for abolition one by one.
Unfortunately, these needs have never been met. Thus, the reasons for the calls for abolition remain and just gained momentum. The fight for long-lasting and institutionalized reform in Congress should continue but it should be coupled with actions on the ground. The SKs can not wait for the legislative reforms. The SKs can not much more wait for it to be abolished and replaced. The newly elected SKs will be serving for three years. This opportunity should not go to waste. With this in view, NAPC Youth and Students Sector, along with its member youth organizations in the grassroots, is piloting capacity and capability training at the same time working with partners in developing an SK Guidebook. The only way for the SKs to stop the mounting calls for abolition is for them to start working and working good, removing reasons for abolition one by one. And the SKs need support and guidance from their communities in doing so. ---------------- References: Cabreza, Vincent. “Student governments urge abolition of ‘non performing’ SK.”
The Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 5, 2007. Available Online: http://frjessie.wordpress.com/category/students/
Hontiveros-Baraquel, Ana Theresia. “House Bill 0956: An Act to Reform and Strengthen the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), Amending for that Purpose Republic Act No. 7160, Otherwise Known as the Local Government Code of the Philippines and for other Purposes.” The 14th Congress, House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines. 2008.
Pimentel, Aquilino. “Senate Bill No. 1126: An Act to Strengthen Sangguniang Kabataan by Amending Republic Act No. 7160 Known as the Local Government Code of 1991 and for other Purposes.” The 13th Congress, Senate, Republic of the Philippines. 2007. Press Release: Abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan Sought. April 13, 2008. Available Online: http://www.nenepimentel.org
Sotelo- Fuertes, Yolanda. “Mayors back call for SK abolition.“ The Philippine Daily Inquirer.
September 7, 2007. Available Online:http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=87153
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), et. al. The Impact of Youth Participation in the
Local Government Process. Philippines, 2007.
Proposed abolition of SK provokes debate
The proposed abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) by the national government has provoked a debate making the issue the talk of the town One of the advocates of SK's abolition from the political landscape is City Mayor Dan Neri-Lim. “I am 100% in favor of the move to abolish the SK,” he said. His reaction came after the pronouncement of the DILG of abolishing the youth sector because the SK has not addressed the youth concerns. “Most of the time, the SK president is either the children, relatives or political supporters of the mayors and governors,” the mayor said. In Bohol , a lot of SK federated presidents are children of the municipal mayors and other political figures of the locality. Commissioner Benjie Oliva of the National Youth Commission batted for SK reform. “The National Youth Commission unanimously approved En Banc Resolution No. 65 series of 2010 entitled, “Resolution Urging the Congress of the Philippines for the passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Bill before holding any SK elections in the country”, he has introduced and sponsored. Oliva, is the chairman of the Committee on Values and Integrity Development of NYC.
The Sangguniang Kabataan was created by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 whose objectives are to tap the energy, enthusiasm, and idealism of young people ages 15-17 years old for grassroots development and to provide a venue for youth participation in local governance, said Oliva in his press statement sent to the Freeman. Oliva cited as reason for the needed SK reform the findings of the University of the Philippines-Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP-CIDS). Among the analyses of the study included the following: “SK falls short in carrying out their legislative functions; SK projects mostly revolve around sports and culture, environment, and infrastructure and fail to address the real and pressing problems of children and young people that pertain to education, livelihood, and drug abuse; SK fails to submit annual and end-of-term reports which lead to non-monitoring of their projects and programs, hence, the effectiveness of their projects are seldom gauged; youth consultation and coordination with community members are often done; and a little youth involvement in program planning and implementation.”
For her part, SK National federated president Jane Censoria del Rosario Cajes, daughter of former Rep. Roberto Cajes, who is now Trinidad mayor, also favored for the proposed SK reform instead of abolishing it altogether. Cajes, who was guest of the “Rundown” program over ANC channel hosted by veteran news anchor Ces Orena-Drilon Monday night, admitted that corruption among the SKs occurred at some point. She blamed politicians for using the youth for politicking. Cajes was under fire during the SK national congress held in Bohol for failure to account the SK funds and present the SK's
financial statements as she promised earlier. The alleged unaccounted money included (a) PhP10 million provided in 2008 by presidential fund; (b) PhP10 million given in 2009 by DENR; (c) financial statement (FS) of 2008 regarding congress in Cebu; (d) FS of 2009 congress held in Subic Bay; and (e) FS of National Convention and launching of Sama-sama Para sa Kalikasan held in Bohol. The angry participants also insisted that Cajes should also make transparent the money coming from dole outs of the Philippines Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Department of National Defense and other private donors such as The Bar. (RVO
The Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) according to the UNICEF[1]is “the quintessential example of child (and youth) participation in governance.”It is a “landmark institution” as it is “a venue for young people to reach outand engage their fellow youth in affecting positive change in society.” It isan imperative for young people themselves to active “take part in their owndevelopment and the development of their communities.”
SK is a unique to and pride for Filipinos in terms of youthparticipation as “(it) is not simple a space for youth participation ingovernment”; but an institution where “the youth are given the right andobligation to govern[2]“.
Indeed, despite the many challenges, the SK, an embodiment youthparticipation in nation building enshrined in the constitution and supported bymany laws, is an institution worth continuously developing.
Thus, the SK Reform Coalition sees the recent proposals from the government to abolish the SK institution and replace it a youth representative to the Barangay (Village) Council wanting of these understanding. Electing a youth representative to the barangay council isnothing but mere tokenism to youth participation; a backward step that PNoygovernment should not take.
While we understand that the government proposes this to save on election costs; we view this necessary cost as an investment. Cutting investment on young people and demeaning an institution supposed to train young people on governance is severing the lifeline of our country’s ready and capable leaders.
The proposed SK abolition is a road to perdition.
The debate between SK abolition and reform has long been foreclosed. SK abolition,and/or subsequent replacement of another mechanism, do not solve any problem faced by the institution. SK abolition is truthtwisted.
True, SK has become a breeding ground for corruption. Butcorruption is not inherent in the institution; it is an influence from a morecorrupted system. One does not fight corruption in an institution by abolishingit, otherwise DPWH or DedEd or the Congress for that matter would have longbeen gone.
True, the SKs are just being used by adult politicians. MostSKs are either a relative of the barangay captain, the mayor, congressmen orgovernor; or their pet. But is it not the general case in Philippine politics?
True, many SKs are not functioning. SK officials do not knowtheir roles and responsibilities. But, it is as true that barangay officials,directly working with the SKs, do not know and limit the SKs’ function tosports, pageants, and clean and green projects.
True, the SK officials are too young and do not have legalauthority. SKs even do not hold their own budget allocation, the barangay does.Is it not the barangay officials who ask the SKs to sign documents for SOPsbefore the their SK budgets are released?
These are all truths and documented in a study commissionedby DILG, UNICEF and NAPC YS. Both sides of the abolition and reform debate subscribe to these.
Another truth that the study found out and should always beremembered is that:
True, there are many SK good practices all over the country.SKs work best with the support from adults, especially from barangay leaders.It is this one truth that the study stresses.
While SK abolition advocates fall short in addressing theseproblems, various SK reform measures have been put forward and are just needingactions.
First, in educating the SK about their roles and responsibility,which is a function of the DILG, the barangay officials should also be informedand capacitated in dealing and supporting their SKs.
Second, the strengthening of the Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK)or the village youth assembly to ensure participatory planning and greateraccountability should be a task taken more proactively by the local DILGofficer with the support of other local youth organizations.
Third, an autonomous fiscal mechanism with accountability measuresshould be put in place to train young people to manage and allocate resourcessubject to government auditing rules.
Fourth, a pilot of anti-dynasty provision, which is providedfor in the constitution, should be enforced in SK, where it can serve as anexample to adult politicians.
Fifth, the age range can be adjusted to account for theperiod when young people have move freedom in arranging their academic loadwithout limiting participation of children- age 15-17.
There are legislative measures in Congress, like the SK Reform and Empowerment Bill of Akbayan which was filled in both 13thand 14th Congress that outlines the necessary legislative measures. Butit has never gone pass the committee level. PNoy now has the power to make it apriority bill of his administration.
There is an even better and easier way for the Executivebranch. The DILG and NYC have mandate and responsibility over the SK. The DILG,NYC, NAPC YS along with UNICEF and
then Council for the Welfare of Children(CWC), in partnership with the SK Reform Coalition, came up with the study onthe situation of SKs, the challenges they are facing and the ways to addressthem. The same group has drafted an SK Guidebook that reinforces theonce-in-a-blue-moon ISKOLAR BOS training for SKs and provides practical toolsand solution to real on the ground situations. These two materials are potentfor use by both the government agencies concerned and the SK themselves. It is already there, the government agencies can make it more accessible, so more people can make use of it.
The SK is faced with many challenges. These are thechallenges that PNoy and the Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo have to face headon. The SK needs crucial reforms. And on these reforms, we will work ontogether.
The road to SK Reform may be long and narrow, but it is theright road to take to ensure meaningful youth participation.
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[1] Nicholas K. Alipui,Representative, UNICEF Philippines. The Impact of Youth Participation in LocalGovernment Process: the Sanguniang Kabataan Experience. UNICEF, DILG NBOO, NAPCYS, 2007.
[2] Joy Aceron, Sectoral Representative(OIC),National Anti-Poverty Commission Youth and Students Sector. The Impact of YouthParticipation in Local Government Process: the Sanguniang Kabataan Experience.UNICEF, DILG NBOO, NAPC YS, 2007.
Additional information on Summary: Should The Party - List System in The Philippines be Abolished? :- (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR, in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) .... Government's party-list system that helps ideological groups and sectoral ... a directive that in cases of libel, punishment should be confined to the imposition fines .... Philippines has abolished the death penalty and aims at a consistent ...- Aug 13, 2010 ... Youth leaders, however, are against total abolition. Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino asserted that the SK system should ...- Jul 1, 2010 ... The political system in the Philippines takes place in an .... The District and Party-list Representatives are elected with a term of three years. .... Summary of the 10 May 2004 House of Representatives of the ... After the war, KALIBAPI was abolished and the Nacionalistas returned to power. ...- May 12, 2010 ... Since the establishment of the Pakistan People's Party-led government in ... that his ministry had forwarded a summary for removing the death ..... [43] Philippines abolished the death penalty in 1987 but restored it in 1995. .... In the current legal system, any move to abolish or even abandon the ...- The vice-president is first in line to succession should the president .... For other political parties see List of political parties in the Philippines. ... e • d Summary of the May 10, 2010 Senate of the Philippines election results ... After the war, KALIBAPI was abolished and the Nacionalistas returned to power ...- Oct 19, 2010 ... Should the Party List System in the Philippines be abolished? This is my
summary - speech for the midterm debate for the said topic last ...- Democracy should, after all, involve citizens in their own governance. ... The second change would be to abolish the current party-list system, through which 20 percent of the ... For a brief summary of corruption charges against the ...- Aug 13, 2010 ... The design, like the "party-list" system, is wrong from theory to ... The SK, therefore, should be abolished. And it should have been ... A certain Tom. S. Villarin, a total political unknown, even locally, virtually berated the Mirror, zeroing his emotional outburst on the editorial staff in particular, in a kilometric reaction to this daily newspaper’s editorial last Saturday (February 27).
Last Saturday’s editorial titled “Correct Shot Fired at Wrong Target” had dealt on the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a petition filed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel seeking the disqualification of GMA from running for Congress in the second district of Pampanga.
In his very long “rejoinder” kuno, occupying the whole page when computer-printed on a legal-sized coupon bond, Villarin who carouses as the “third nominee” for the House of Representatives of Akbayan, one of several fronts in Congress of the terrorist Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing and extortion arm, the New People’s Amy, said the editorial “missed the whole point” in questioning the leftist party-list group why it targeted only GMA and not ousted former president and ex-plunder convict Erap Estrada in its petition to the highest tribunal.
This total unknown—even in the local political arena, to repeat—said “the issue on hand is barring a sitting president for any re-election in whatever position (emphasis supplied”, pointing out that “re-election and running for another post are construed to be synonymous as it targets the President alone, as intended by the framers of the Constitution.”
“Re-election and running for another post” synonymous? Ha! Ha! Ha!
Our being engaged in print journalism for most of our years since college, we have not claimed (and will never, ever do so) to have mastered the English language. We still continue to learn the nitty-gritty of the king’s English, the unchallenged international language in business and diplomacy, to this very day.
So to get to the issue at bar, we consulted Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, an authority in the English language. It defines the transitive verb “re-elect” as to elect for another term in office.
When applied to GMA, it simply means seeking another term of the very office she is holding. But, contrary to Akbayan’s crooked logic, the lady President is not running for another term; she is seeking an entirely different office—though very much lower in category than the one she is holding—as member of the House of Representative representing Pampanga’s second congressional district.
That is where this congressional wannabe—through the backdoor and not via a popular election—really missed the point. The 1987 Cory constitution says, “The President is not eligible for any re-election.” The constitution prohibits the sitting Presiding from running for the office he or she is holding. Nowhere in the fundamental law is the incumbent President barred from seeking a different elective office as GMA is doing.
But we agree with Villarin’s assertion that “The Presidency, being the highest elective office should emulate the virtue of delicadeza…and clothe such esteemed position with dignity and honor.”
The problem is: what is immoral and indecent is not necessarily illegal. Womanizing, especially for married men, is definitely immoral. Unfortunately for the ultra religious and highly decent people, it is not illegal for a married man to have kabits or paramours as long as he does not have a legally-executed marriage contract with another woman or other women.
Dating back to his days as a popular action star of third-rate movies, ousted president and ex-convict for plunder Erap Estrada had several women aside from his legal wife, the former Luisa Pimentel, by whom he has three children—senator Jinggoy Estrada. Jude Estrada and Jacqueline Ejercito-Lopez. Erap has three illegitimate first-born children, one of whom is San Juan mayor JV Ejercito, son of Davao City-born and former starlet Guia Gomez, and another with former starlet Laarni Enriquez.
But despite his having several kept women while being married to the former Luisa Pimentel, Erap has not been sued in court for bigamy for he is only legally married to one woman. Comedy king Dolphy sired 18 children with at least half a dozen women. Unlike Erap, he is not married to any one of them. But who says Dolphy’s fathering a dozen and a half children with half a dozen women all outside of wedlock is illegal?
Back to the issue at bar, GMA’s seeking a House seat is no doubt meant to perpetuate herself in power. But inasmuch as there is no law, not even in the constitution that prohibits her from running for a House seat via the second district of her home province of Pampanga what will stop her from doing that?
The remedy here and to avoid a repetition of this situation in future elections, in our humble view even as a non-lawyer much less a constitutional expert is to amend the constitution, so as to state in clear and unmistakable terms that an incumbent and outgoing president should be barred from running for any elective office.
But, then, while definitely a necessity to erase some ambiguities in the constitution and do away with a number of questionable provisions in the fundamental law, Charter change is not in the agenda of many politicians.
To begin with, the 1987 constitutional was crafted not by delegates elected by the people but framed by a constitutional commission composed of four dozen or so members, all handpicked by the late President Cory Aquino.
One provision in the Cory constitution that should be erased and done away with is that which provides for party-list members of the House who are supposed to represent the marginalized sectors of the country. This provision has been grossly abused by groups pretending to belong to the marginalized sector/sectors of Philippine Society since its implementation more than a decade ago.
Who says such groups as Bayan Muna, the flagship front organization of the terrorist CPP-NPA in Congress, Gabriela and Akbayan are marginalized? Members of Gabriela and Akbayan, to mention just two groups, all belong to the middle and upper middle class.
We need not go far to cite a specific example of one passing off as belonging to the marginalized sector although in truth and in fact he belongs to the middle, if not upper middle, class. As a resident of Ecoland subdivision, inhabited by people from the middle and upper middle class, who says Villarin belongs to the urban poor?
All sectors of Philippine society are represented in the so-called lower house of Congress by members who are all “elected from legislative districts apportioned among the provinces, cities, and the Metropolitan Manila area in accordance with the number of their respective inhabitants, and on the basis of a uniform and progressive ratio.”
Right now there are about 57 congressmen/women from party-list groups. who entered Congress through the backdoor. For their salaries and those of their staff alone, the government spends teens of millions of pesos yearly. And what about their virtually unlimited allowances for domestic and foreign travel? Each congressman/woman whether elected in legislative districts or coming from party-list organizations like the left-leaning Akbayan has a pork barrel of P70 million every year, thus making the already impoverished Juan de la Cruz poorer.
If the party-list system is abolished, as it should be to save on badly needed public funds since the Philippines remains as the second poorest nation in the whole of Asia, just a notch above Bangladesh, the region’s economic doormat, the national budget deficit now ballooning to P300 billion will be substantially reduced.
That said, abolition of the party-list is a MUST, and the sooner it is done the better for millions of Antoy de la Cruzes.
