Expanded age range, non-cash benefits for SK proposed at Senate hearing

The Senate local government committee on Tuesday started tackling possible reforms for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) after Congress passed a bill postponing elections for new officials to the youth council.

During the hearing, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who chairs the panel, said he personally favors expanding the current age range for SK officials, which is currently set at 15 to 17 years old.

"In my view, you do not have to be young to be a youth leader. You can still lead well even if you don't fall into that age group. 'Yung mga 25 to 30 years old, marami na silang alam. Sayang, asset na iyon," Marcos said during the Senate hearing on Tuesday morning.

He added that he will consult the Commission on Elections (Comelec) regarding the possibility of changing the age range for the SK.

Leocadio Trovelo of the Department of Interior and Local Government's (DILG) National Barangay Operations Office meanwhile said that based on his office's consultations, SK members favor expanding the age range up to 24 years old.

"Hindi dapat mawala iyong 15 to 17 years old. Based on consultations, puwedeng members pa rin sila pero hindi sila pwedeng mag-run for elections. Non-voting po. Iyong 18 to 24 years old lang ang puwedeng maging officials of the assembly," Trovelo said.

Last week, Congress passed the bill postponing the SK polls scheduled this month. The measure is currently awaiting President Benigno Aquino III's signature.

Non-monetary benefits

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former chairperson of the Kabataang Barangay (KB) and Marcos' sister, meanwhile proposed the granting of non-monetary benefits to SK officials to "insulate them from money."

The KB is the precursor of the SK, which was created by the Local Government Code of 1991 to provide youth representation in government.

"Ang akin, ibalik ang volunteerism. Walang bayad ang SK officials, social benefits lang in the form of scholarships at PhilHealth," Governor Marcos said.

"Wala na dapat sahod. Hindi na dapat nakakasawsaw sa iba't ibang pondo o kontrata ang mga kabataan," she added.

Governor Marcos however said that it is wrong to blame SK officials for the perceived corruption in the youth council.

"Why are we blaming corruption on the young when it affects even those the elder ones in the government? Kung ano ang nakita ng SK sa nakakatanda nila, iyon ang gagawin nila. Bakit bilang kasalanan nila ang korupsyon?" the governor said.

"Ibuwag na natin Kongreso at Senado bago buwagin ang SK," she added.

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito, one of the authors of the SK Reform bill, meanwhile pushed for more leadership trainings and immersions for SK officials.

"Nakakatulong iyon. I have gone through those kinds of training... Ang problema ngayon, nasa five-star hotels na  ang mga training. Hindi na nae-experience ang kahirapan ng buhay. Detached na sila from real life," he said. -- KBK, GMA News