Duterte signs law strengthening Sangguniang Kabataan  

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has signed into law a bill that seeks to strengthen the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and provides monthly honorarium and other privileges to officials of barangay youth councils.

Republic Act 11768, which amended the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, was signed last May 6, documents released yesterday by Malacañang showed.

Under the new law, SK members, including the treasurer and secretary, shall receive a monthly honorarium chargeable against the SK funds. The honorarium shall not exceed the monthly compensation received by the SK chair and shall be given at the end of every regular monthly meeting.

Not more than 25 percent of the SK funds shall be allocated for personnel services, according to the law.

Local governments may provide additional honorarium, social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the SK chair and the elected and appointed members of the council through their own local ordinances.

Elected and appointed SK officials shall also be exempted from taking any of the components of the National Service Training Program; excused from attending their regular classes while attending regular or special SK meetings and Sangguniang Barangay sessions, in the case of the SK chair; and provided with Philippine Health Insurance Corp. coverage.

SK officials shall also be entitled to appropriate civil service eligibility, pursuant to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Civil Service Commission.

The new law requires the SK to appoint a secretary and treasurer and set the schedule of regular SK meetings within 60 days from their assumption to office.

The treasurer should have an education or career background relating to business administration, accountancy, finance, economics and bookkeeping.

If no person meets the criteria, the SK chair can consider other suitable nominees. The appointed SK treasurer shall undergo mandatory bookkeeping training from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority before assuming office.

SK officials are expected to craft a three-year rolling plan to be known as the comprehensive barangay youth development plan within three months from their assumption to office.

Youth council members are also allowed to hold fund-raising activities that are in line with the development plan.

The proceeds of the fundraising efforts shall be tax-exempt and shall accrue to the general fund of the SK, the law said.

The new law also requires barangay officials to prioritize programs, projects and activities that promote the thrusts of the Philippine Youth Development Plan, like health, education, environment, global mobility, active citizenship, governance, social equality and inclusion, peace-building and security, human rights, gender equality and economic empowerment.