BY Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The
SanggunianKabataan and Barangay Elections will be simultaneously conducted on
October 31 this year, according to the top provincial official of the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC) in Zamboang del Norte.
Provincial Election Supervisor Atty.
JossilMacuteand DILG Provincial Director, Ms. Lerma Campaner were the guests during
the ”KapihansaDipolog” forumheld at Sunburst Fried Chicken, Camila Hotel I on
Sunday.
However, according to Macute,there
are changes on the age of the members of the SangguniangKabataan, now called Katipunan
ng Kabataan.
Macutesaid
the new law adjusts the age limit of SK
officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old to make them legally capable of
entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.
Ms. Campaner said under Republic Act
10742 otherwise known as the SangguniangKabataan Reform Act of 2015, which was
signed by then President Benigno Aquino III on January 15, 2015, the Katipunan
ng Kabataan will now be composed of youth 15 to 30 years of age.
However only KK members aging 18 to
24 years are qualified to run and seek any position in the Katipunan ng
Kabataan Council which will be composed of a KK Chairman and 7 Kagawads.
Section 10 of RA 10742 provides an anti-dynasty provision, making it the
first law to comply with Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution. As part of
the qualifications of elective SK officials, it requires that they must not be
related within the second degree of affinity or consanguinity to any incumbent
national, regional, or local elected
official at the city, municipality, or barangay level.
Campaner
also reminded on the qualification of the SK officials: that he/she shall be
18-24 years old and a resident of at least 6 months in the barangay where
he/she intends to run; able to read and write and never been convicted with
final judgement on any case, involving moral turpitude.
Meanwhile,
Macutesaid that COMELEC will conduct registration of SK voters, especially
those aging 15-17 from July 15 to 31. They will also accept applications for
change of status, correction of entry, and re-activation of voter’s
registration record but not application for transfer of voting precinct, within
or outside the city.
The conduct of the SangguningKabataan and Barangay
elections will be done manually.