CEBU, Philippines - Nacionalista Party senatorial candidate Gilbert Remulla said that he is for the abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan system as it no longer serves its purpose but has become a “breeding ground” for corruption.
“It has not been able to serve its full purpose. Primarily, it’s not really optimized and it becomes a breeding ground for corruption,” the NP spokesman said.
The former broadcaster, however, clarified that he is not anti-youth and that what he is asking for is a better system of representation for the youth, not to totally silence them.
Remulla said that in place of the SK, there could be youth representatives in the local government units such as a youth sector representative in the city council or provincial board that can reach the youth on a farther and wider scale.
“That way, the youth’s voice can be truly heard in local policy-making and can be made directly. I am proposing that we have another system created which is really centered on the youth under the National Youth Commission,” he added.
Remulla also sees that under the SK alone, those elected in SK positions are just muscled around by much older and experienced politicians in terms of policy-making, and in effect no local legislation is done directly for the youth.
He said that through his youth representative proposal, the youth can now be on equal footing with the other older members of the local legislative bodies.
Meanwhile, Remulla, who landed among the top 12 senatorial candidates in the latest SWS survey sponsored by Business World attributed this recent rating high to his television commercial dubbed as “May pamilya din ako”, establishing his strong family ties.
Remulla’s high ratings in the surveys were likewise attributed to his showbiz relatives who are campaigning for him.
Remulla’s mother-in-law, Ruby Diaz-Roa who is also campaigning for him, is the sister of 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and movie actress, the late Rio Diaz-Cojuangco.
Remulla’s wife, Georgia is the first cousin of beauty queen Georgina Wilson and commercial model Isabelle Daza.
These showbiz personalities and beauty queens are the ones in-charge of his campaigns in the different provinces in the country including the setting up of the “Youth for Remulla” and “Kabataang Swak na Swak kay Remulla” movements. (FREEMAN NEWS)