House committee OKs SK reform bill

CEBU, Philippines - After more than a year of deliberation, the consolidated bill that seeks to reform the current system of the Sangguniang Kabataan was finally approved by the committee on local government of the House of Representatives.

The SK Reform Bill or the “Act Introducing Reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan” was deliberated upon in the committee level last Wednesday.

 Among the provisions of the proposed measure is the raising of the age ceiling for would-be members of the youth council from the current 15 to 17 years old to 18 to 21.

On the other hand, the age requirement for the members of the Katipunan ng Kabataan who will elect SK officials will be expanded to 15 to 21 years old instead of the original 15 to 17.

Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and who earlier pushed for the same measures in the Senate, explained that the reform in age range will enable more participation from the youth and give the officials more independence in their affairs such as signing of contracts and disbursing fund.

Jig Joris Morrondoz, officer-in-charge of the NYC-Visayas area office, said the proposed legislation also includes anti-dynasty provision which bans a KK member from running for SK office if he or she has a relative in any elective public office within the fourth degree of consanguinity.

The proposed measure also pushes for the institutionalization of the Local Youth Development Council, a body that will help in ensuring the participation of more youth through youth organizations, fiscal autonomy so the SK fund would be disbursed solely for youth development programs, and mandatory leadership training to fully capacitate the SK officials in the execution of their roles and duties.

Morrondoz added that he is amenable to the proposal to reset again the SK elections slated on February 21 this year since the previous postponement has not yet serve its purpose.

The SK elections was originally slated in October 2013 but was postponed to this year through Republic Act 10632 to pave way for Congress to legislate  reforms.

However, the SK elections may be postponed again as senators agreed to reschedule it to October 2016. The House of Representatives had approved on third and final reading in December last year the bill seeking postponement of the SK elections to 2016.

In the NYC official website, NYC Chairperson Gio Tingson said the House panel members and the advocates of SK reform will ensure the passage of the bill into law before February this year.

“We are a big step closer to a meaningful SK. The amendments in the approved version will democratize and professionalize the institution,” he added.— (FREEMAN)