Cordillera dev’t peace councils push honoraria for SK officials

BAGUIO CITY -- The Cordillera Regional Development Council and Regional Peace and Order Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting the central offices of the Department of Budget and Management and Commission on Audit to craft guidelines authorizing Sangguniang Kabataan barangay councils to charge from SK funds honoraria for other SK officials aside from SK chairpersons.

The resolution was initiated by Baguio City Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan who said it is unfair for other SK officials such as secretaries, treasurers and kagawads not to receive honoraria when they are being mandated to perform duties and responsibilities.

Although it is explicitly provided in Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act of 215 that it is only the SK chairperson that will be entitled to receive honoraria from the barangays concerned, Domogan, who chairs both the RDC-CAR and RPOC-CAR, said ways and means should be done to grant at least minimal honoraria to SK kagawads, secretaries and treasurers because they are also performing equally important duties and responsibilities as youth leaders.

He said that based on his talks with  SK leaders in the city, a good number of the youth leaders did not aspire to become SK officials in their barangays because of the alleged absence of minimal monetary benefits that will allow them to defray even their transportation cost when attending meetings, thus, the need for concerned government agencies to find how to authorize the grant of honoraria to other SK officials to empower the youth to become active leaders in their barangays. 

According to him, the law mandates the allocation of 10 percent of barangay budgets for implementation of SK programs and projects and honoraria to be granted to other SK officials can be sourced from the said fund provided that appropriate guidelines be issued by concerned government agencies on honoraria to other SK officials in barangays.      He said there are more active SK kagawads in barangays who deserve the compensation for the exemplary services.

The approved joint RDC-CAR and RPOC-CAR resolution will be transmitted to the DILG and COA central offices for immediate action considering that SK officials around the region are awaiting positive action from the concerned government agencies considering the enormous duties and responsibilities that are being demanded from them by barangay officials.

The Baguio City council earlier approved on first reading a proposed ordinance granting financial assistance  to all Sangguniang Kabataan  kagawads, treasurers and secretaries in the city, defining procedures and providing funds for the purpose.

The ordinance authored by Councilor Levy Lloyd Orcales stated that the local government recognizes the just share of all SK officials in the aggressive promotion of youth empowerment, and towards the said end, it fully supports the activities and endeavors of the SK.

The ordinance added all SK kagawads, treasurers and secretaries in the city shall receive a monthly financial assistance in the amount of P1,500, provided that, they shall actively participate in the activities of organizations, specifically anti-drug abuse councils, barangay council for the protection of children or the city anti-graffiti task force. -- Dexter A. See