Postponement of SK election

EDITORIAL

Baguio Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. has sought to further postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan election on Feb. 21, 2015 to give way for deliberation of proposed amendments and provisions of the local government code.

House Bill No. 5043 is known as “An Act Postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to October 31, 2016, Further Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 9164, As Amended, Otherwise Known As “An Act Providing for Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.”

On Oct. 3, 2013, President Aquino signed bill postponing SK elections set Oct. 28 to pave way for reforms that the youth council needs. The SK was created under the Local Government Code of 1991 as a means of providing young people with representation in government.

There have been calls to reform or abolish the SK as some lawmakers and various sectors said the youth council was becoming a school for corruption. There are pending bills in Congress either for the reform or the abolition of the SK.

Aliping said “postponement of the election last October 28, 2013 was brought about by the urgent need for reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan.”

Several bills introducing the much needed reforms were filed and are currently being deliberated as possible amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA No. 7160). “These changes will find more meaning and greater impact on the Sangguniang Kabataan if the desired reforms are firmly in place before the leaders and officials are elected,” Aliping said.

“The postponement will allow Congress more time to legislate the appropriate amendments to applicable provisions of the Local Government Code affecting the Sangguniang Kabataan. Thereafter, the youth who will aspire to be elected as officials of the renewed Sangguniang Kabataan will have sufficient time to familiarize themselves with their roles, functions, duties and responsibilities as such youth leaders.”

Several sectors have also questioned the separate election of the SK and barangay officials when they will be working together. Aliping said that the bill “seeks to synchronize the election of barangay and SK officials who will be working closely together.”

Section 1 of Republic Act 9164 will now be amended as follows: “Section 1 Date of Election - There shall be synchronized barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections which shall be held 0n July 15, 2002. Subsequent synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections shall be held on the last Monday of October 2007 and every three (3) years thereafter; Provided, that the Sangguniang Kabataan elections on October 28, 2013 shall be postponed to Oct. 31, 2016.”