By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY - “The Sangguniang Kabataan is a venue where the youth
can actively take part in local legislation and their voices heard,” shared
National Youth Commission (NYC)-9 Regional Director Raymond Domingo in an
interview, adding “abolishing it will remove this mechanism.”
Article
2, Section 13 of our Constitution says that “The State recognizes the vital
role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their
physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall
inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement
in public and civic affairs.”
Director
Domingo said the SK members, as mandated by law, regularly meet to discuss
issues and concerns affecting the youth, especially during the Katipunan ng
Kabataan quarterly meetings. “Here, they decide which needs they should address
with projects through the budget allotted to them, which is 10% of the
barangay’s general fund,” he stressed.
Some
projects implemented by the SK in Zamboanga include health campaigns like
HIV/AIDS awareness, dialogues on employment, and sports-related activities,
among others.
One of
the SK’s functions, said Domingo, is “to promulgate resolutions that affect the
development of the youth in the barangays. At their age (15-17 years old), SK
members will have acquired knowledge on how the government works; as such, this
becomes their training ground, should they decide to pursue politics or
government service in the future.”
The SK
is composed of a chairman, seven members, a secretary and a treasurer, who are
elected by the barangay’s youth assembly, or Katipunan ng Kabataan. The
chairman serves as the official voice of the youth in the barangay council.
Further, the SK Federated President shall be an ex-officio member of the city,
municipal or provincial council.
However,
in light of the upcoming barangay and SK elections come Oct. 28, several
sectors and lawmakers are calling for its immediate abolition. Yet, instead of
completely abolishing it, many are recommending for its amendment.
For his
part, Senator JV Ejercito expressed that if there is indeed a problem with the
SK, all it needs is a reform. If it is shut down, the youth’s voice will be
gone in local legislation, as well as their privilege to serve in their
communities. (PIA9)