Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino today called on the government to “reorient” the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and transform it into a youth watchdog vs corruption and misgovernance amidst proposals to abolish the youth council.

“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.

Palatino said this will “invigorate” the SK and will help develop a new breed of leaders. He said that the young people just need “a little encouragement” and a “progressive framework.”
Palatino also assailed 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.

“Robredo’s proposal to abolish the youth council and instead have only one representative will weaken youth representation and will make them more vulnerable to the influence of traditional politics,” he said.

Palatino said Robredo’s proposal will kill the Katipunan ng mga Kabataan (KK), a transparency and accountability mechanism of the youth council.

“This will only make the young people in the barangays less involved in governance and community affairs. This proposal will worsen the problem we have today with SK: it has been coopted and is now becoming a breeding ground for trapos precisely because the SK is not empowered enough,” he adds.

Palatino said the government should not undermine the capability of the youth to lead. “We need a new breed of leaders if we want change, those who will stand for patriotic change and social justice,” said Palatino.

“The more the young people participate in governance, the more they will be able to expose corrupt acts, anti-people policies and become inspired to rake on the role for social change. This way, we can tap the youth for the change we want in our society.”

Palatino filed HB 1963 or SK Reform and Strengthening Bill last week aiming to improve and further empower the SK.