NYC chair Aiza Seguerra opposes SK abolition

The National Youth Commission (NYC) has voiced its opposition to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s proposal to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan, saying Congress should not deprive young people of the ability to lead.

In asking Alvarez to reconsider the plan to scrap the youth council, NYC chairperson Aiza Seguerra stressed SK’s uniqueness as a “feature of Philippine democracy” and its importance in encouraging civic engagement among young people.

“By providing this venue for young people to participate in governance, we are investing in the next generation of effective local and national leaders,” Seguerra said in a statement.

Alvarez is pushing for the abolition of the SK amid proposals to postpone the barangay and SK elections scheduled in October.

The Speaker said the youth serving as SK officials either get paid for doing nothing or do not have enough time to devote to their studies.

“Kasi 'yung SK, kung pilitin mo yan na magtrabaho bilang SK, hindi yan papasok sa eskwelahan. At kung pilitin mo yan na pumasok sa eskwelahan hindi rin yan magtatrabaho bilang SK. So, sumusweldo yan na wala namang ginagawa,” he said in Leyte last Saturday.

Alvarez noted that youth sector already has representation in the House of Representatives.

'SK remains relevant'

But Seguerra believes the SK remains relevant, especially with the passage of the SK Reform Law earlier this year. The NYC chairperson said the youth council can be the government’s partner for social development and in the war against illegal drugs.

“With the SK, the state is telling young people that 'you are not mere beneficiaries, you are our partners'. To abolish it is tantamount to depriving the youth of their voice in local governance," Seguerra said.

Seguerra urged legislators to have faith in the Filipino youth by retaining the SK, saying it is a venue for young people to contribute to the transformation of their communities and the process of cultivating their leadership skills.

“Let us not deprive them of that,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News