Citing the achievements of the provincial Sangguniang Kabataan Federation under his administration, outgoing president Ramon Martin Calderon has argued for the retention of the SK and suggested instead that reforms be done if necessary “to make it more relevant.”
Calderon, in his valedictory during the last session of the Cebu Provincial Board for 2007 last Tuesday, said the SKF of Cebu has been “at the helm of development of both the youth and children.”
He said that the SKF, during his administration, has delivered vital projects and programs in the province despite shortage of funds, and these achievements could prove that those who have been seeking for SK abolition are wrong.
“We have gone beyond the usual sports and beauty contest. We concentrated on educational, livelihood, skills training and promoted advocacy work on the problems that plague the youth,” said Calderon.
He said that even if the contentions of the anti-SK advocates are correct, the abolition of this youth body is not the solution so the government must carry out reforms instead to enhance the value of its existence.
In the previous years, student leaders, educators, top officials of the League of Municipalities and League of Cities of the Philippines, among other groups, called for the abolition of the SK following the low turnout in the young voters’ registration during the barangay and SK elections last October 29.
“The lack of maturity of our young legislators can be enhanced by the guidance and support of various sectors. They (youths) can be molded into responsible leaders given the right training and values orientation that would prevent them from becoming pawns of people with vested interests,” Calderon contended.
Calderon appealed to the provincial officials to support the SK. “Through a package of interventions, we can make youth globally competitive by enhancing their educational, economic, political, physical, employment and social development opportunities. The SK cannot do it alone”
He then recited the achievements of the Cebu SKF, during his term, such as livelihood and technical vocation training in various towns, and the establishment of laboratories for cellular phone repair training for out-of-school youths.
The SKF had sponsored other training programs for educational development, environmental protection, community development, leadership, computer literacy, livelihood, drug awareness, reproductive health, he said.
Calderon also told the Provincial Board that the SKF had already started a program to resolve the prevailing problems of the youth today such as juvenile delinquency, juvenile justice, fraternity violence, and the lack of resource for education.
The election for new president of the Cebu SKF is slated on December 17 but Calderon said he has no idea yet on who would be the possible candidates for the position as his replacement. — Gerome M. Dalipe/RAE