Transform SK into corruption watchdog instead – youth solon

Instead of abolishing the Sangguniang Kabataan, Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino today said that the government can opt to “reorient the youth council and transform it into a youth watchdog versus corruption and misgovernance.”

“We should not put to waste this large network of young Filipinos who want to participate in government and community service. Why not tap the SK and launch a nationwide campaign against corruption and misgovernance, train the youth to be advocates of new politics from the barangay level up,” said Palatino

The youth solon said the proposal of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to abolish the SK and instead give one seat to a youth representative in the barangay council “will weaken youth representation and will even make them more vulnerable to the influence of traditional politics.”

Palatino also said the government should not argue that abolishing the SK is tantamount to cost-cutting. “In the current set-up, there are seven SK Kagawads who are essentially volunteers because they do not receive a single centavo for their services. If the SK will be abolished, the government will be putting to waste 300,000 able-bodied young individuals who can be the government’s partners in its crusade against corruption and misgovernance,” he said.

‘Irresponsible statements’

The youth solon also expressed dismay over the “irresponsible” statements made by President Benigno Aquino III on the abolition of the SK in the midst of the registration for the barangay and SK polls.

“Is it a deliberate attempt to discourage young Filipinos from participating in local governance? Such a statement made while hundreds of thousands of youth are waiting in line to register for the October 25 SK polls is insulting to us young Filipinos who want to help transform the country’s political and social landscape. Is Pnoy watching the news lately? Hindi ba niya nakita na parang halos makipagpatayan na ang mga kabataan para lang makapagpatala sa eleksyon?” he said.

Palatino assailed Aquino’s “non-consultative style of governance” which the President has demonstrated in his recent executive decisions and pronouncements such as the sacking of PAGASA chief Prisco Nilo, imposition of toll hikes, and the abolition of the youth council in local governments.

“The SK National Federation’s full page ad last Sunday opposing the planned SK abolition shows that they were not even consulted on this matter,” he said. The youth solon said the President seems to be ill-
advised on the issue of the SK abolition.

‘Reform and strengthen the SK’

Meanwhile, Palatino said he recognizes the fact that there are indeed serious flaws in accountability, transparency and governance in current SK. This prompted the youth partylist to file House Bill 1963 or the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Bil.

Included in the bill are the following proposals for reforms:

• Changing the age requirement for SK candidates from 15 to 18 years old to 18 to years old to ensure that they have the legal capacity to perform their functions;
• Requiring SK units to deposit their funds in a bank preferably government-owned and granting SK units fiscal autonomy over their allotted budget;
• Requiring SK units to release a quarterly financial report to practice transparency and to curb corruption
• Mandating that the Katipunan ng mga Kabataan (KK) function as the highest policy making body of the SK responsible for holding regular consultations with other youth-based organizations in the community;
• Empowering and encouraging the SK to engage in promoting basic rights such as quality education for all, secure youth employment, sustainable development, human rights and social justice.

He adds, “Corruption and inefficient governance are among the major issues causing calls for the SK’s abolition. But the government should not put the blame on the youth. It is not the Filipino youth who have
failed the system. It is the system that has failed them.”###