Republic of the Philippines

NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION

10
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National Youth Parliament
RESOLUTION NO. NYP10-05
Series 2014
A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF
THE PHILIPPINES TO ENACT A BILL REFORMING THE SANGGUNIANG
KABATAAN TOGETHER WITH THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS
AND POLICIES CONTAINED HEREIN
___________________________________________________________________
by: Committee on Participation
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the
state recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social wellbeing and along with it,
to inculcate youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public
and civic affairs;
WHEREAS, Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act specifies that the
state recognizes its responsibility to enable the youth to fulfil their vital role in nation-
building;
WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN), through its various resolutions, programs and
commitment of resources, has also recognized the important role that youth play in the
development of the world in which they live; the UN Action for Youth Agenda requires
that the youth voice should be increased through meaningful representation,
participation in community and political decision making bodies;
WHEREAS, to enable these policies on youth participation, the Congress of the
Philippines has enacted Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government
Code of 1991 under which an institution known as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) has
been established to serve as a mechanism for the direct representation of the youth in
local legislative bodies;
WHEREAS, the SK was able to function as an institution for the youth and by the youth
for more than two decades under which the ideals and aspirations of the youth and their
collective interests were given a tangible reality and cared for;
WHEREAS, because of institutional lapses, influence of partisan politics, peddling of
political patronage, and other problems which the law governing the SK has failed to
address, the SK as an institution in many parts of the country has been a training
ground for future corrupt leaders and a breeding ground for graft and corruption and
political dynasties and hence, has in many times failed to serve its purpose;
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WHEREAS, there are issues and negative implications of the efficiency of the
Sangguniang Kabataan as an institutional representation of the youth which brought
about debates, resolution and actions to abolish or reform the SK;
WHEREAS, the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan is not the logical, reasonable
and sound solution; to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan without alternative structures
that can be readily be put into place would not respond to the problems that the system
currently faces rather, it would do away with a mechanism that has great potential as a
venue for youth participation in governance and community service;
WHEREAS, reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan should be introduced in order to
strengthen the said institution and properly guide the youth in local governance,
community service and nation building; the weaknesses in the Sangguniang Kabataan
can be addressed by effecting changes in crucial aspects of the existing policies,
statutes and in their implementation;
WHEREAS, Congress enacted on October 3, 2013, Republic Act 10632, otherwise
known as An Act to Postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 28,
2013, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 9340, and for other Purposes, which in
effect suspended the operations of the SK throughout the country as the same
expressly provides for no-appointment and no- hold over clauses for the purpose of
preventing the filling of vacancies as a direct result of the postponement of elections;
WHEREAS, after identifying the specific problems the Sangguniang Kabataan is facing,
and considering the diversity, comprehensiveness and vitality of the issue on youth
participation in which the Sangguniang Kabataan as an institution is the primary venue,
it is necessary that a reform be instituted to prevent the further deterioration of the
aforesaid youth institution;
WHEREAS, the 10
th
National Youth Parliament upholds the right of the youth for
meaningful participation because it is detrimental to the youth that they have no
representatives in the government, no official organization to pursue their welfare and
collective interests, and no youth-sponsored programs to harness and hone the talents
of their own thus the need to push for reforms on the provisions of the Sangguniang
Kabataan as provided in RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of
1991;
WHEREAS, according to a study funded by the United Nations Childrens Fund
(UNICEF) on 2006, the Sangguniang Kabataan can be a true venue of youth
participation and representation in governance if and only if the powers given to the SK
are fully maximized, and given due credence and respect;
WHEREAS, maximization of full youth representation through addressing the specific
needs and concerns of the different sectors (PWD, gender, IP, marginalized youth) and
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having a mechanism using the bottom-up approach in organizing the youth from the
different local government unit up to the national scale;
NOW THEREFORE, after due deliberation on the subject matter, it was-
RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to strongly urge the congress of the
Republic of the Philippines to enact a bill reforming the Sangguniang Kabataan as an
institution for the youth, by the youth, and of the youth, together with the specific
recommendations and policies contained herein, to wit:
Grant fiscal autonomy to the Sangguniang Kabataan subject to usual accounting
and auditing procedures, there is a need to disclose all expenditures concerning
public interest requiring SK units to deposit their funds in a bank preferably
government-owned and granting SK units fiscal autonomy over their allotted
budget/ define the composition of the budget committee to include other
stakeholders affecting the youth such as other youth organizations. The
overseeing committee should be composed of DILG officers for the
appropriateness of the program, and possibly a representative of the municipal
budget office/COA/municipal accountant so that the Accounting Standards are
properly followed;
Amend RA 7160 on SK officials' age increasing the age participation in KK from
15-24 years old, but SK Chairperson must be at least 18-24 years old and the SK
Kagawad must be at least 15-24 years old;
Mandating that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) responsible for holding regular
consultations with other youth-based organizations in the community;
A bottom-up and more participatory role and policy-making functions of
Katipunan ng Kabataan. The KK shall be an avenue for accessible information
dissemination and communication regarding NYC and SK programs and
services, and consultation for budgeting and issues affecting the youth. KK has
the power to initiate or file any complaint against any erring SK Official;
Ensure the maximization of existing powers of the SK by having them trained
using the ISKOLAR-BOS program and other seminars WHICH SHOULD BE a
real training and not mere field trip and by having the scope of such training
embrace real SK concerns as identified by national and local government
agencies and through the periodic consultation with youth groups and the KK
mandate specific government agencies like the NYC, DOH, DepEd, DA, and
LGUs and other gov't agencies to increase the degree and quality of support,
supervision, and assistance to SK.
Creation of a National SK Governance Academy, as NYC- capacity-building
center for SK Officials and youth leaders and institutionalizing SK seal of good
governance.
Addition of one (1) ex-officio members representative from any community-based
youth organization existing in the barangay and two (2) marginalized sector such
as IPs, PWDs, women, out-of-school youth, working youth;
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Creation of a body which consists of representatives from the existing youth
organizations in the barangay. The SK shall hold consultations with them and
form an annual development plan;
SK Benefits and Privilege: No honorarium or payment for service rendered by the
SK Officials. Instead, the SK Officials are entitled to Scholarships, PhilHealth
Coverage and exemption in taking NSTP/ROTC;
National Youth Commission, as sole government agency responsible for SK and
other youth program and service;
SK Elections should not be synchronized with other elections;
Institutionalize the Local Youth Development Council and create a Local Youth
Development Office in all municipalities/cities/provinces, they shall be the
secretariat, technical and operation support of the Sangguniang Kabataan;
Youth participation in environment programs and disaster risk reduction
management-climate change adaptation. The SK Chairperson shall be a member
of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. The Local Youth
Development Council president shall sit as a member at the
City/Municipal/Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council;
Strengthening the supporting bodies of the SK: Green Brigade, Livelihood and
Social Entrepreneurship Committee, Anti-Drug Abuse Youth Council, etc.
wherein these supporting bodies shall be requested to submit an annual support
of their activities;
SK Kagawads shall hold standing committees representing specific youth sectors
identified in the community;
The SK shall ensure full and active participation of all sectors of the youth by
providing accessible information dissemination, communication, and facilities to
services in relation to the program and projects of the council;
The SK shall ensure full participation of all sectors of the youth through equal
representation during consultation, planning, formulation, implementing, and
evaluating of all the policies and programs of the council; and
The SK shall create policies and programs that are gender sensitive and
responsive to the specific needs of women and other marginalized sectors of the
community.
The COMELEC shall ensure that the SK Candidates are capable for the office
they desire: proper application process; revised application form given by the
COMELEC; screening or interview that will be conducted by COMELEC or
appointed professionals.
Republic of the Philippines
NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION
10
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National Youth Parliament
ADOPTED this 17th day of May 2014 at Manila, Philippines.
Certified by:
(Sgd.)
RAPONCEL D. ABUEG
Secretary General
Approved by:
(Sgd.)
FARAHNAZ A.GHODSINIA
President