Postpone 2015 SK polls to give way to needed reforms

A Mindanao lawmaker has joined moves to postpone the scheduled February 21, 2015
Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the last Monday of ctober 201!"
#$he postponement, which would synchroni%e it with the ne&t baran'ay polls, would afford more
time to institute the needed reforms to address concerns and alle'ed shortcomin's in the system of youth
representation in 'overnance,( )ep" Anthony *" +el )osario ,1
st
+istrict, +avao del -orte. is insistin'"
)ep" +el )osario is author of /0 500! which seeks to amend )epublic Act 10!12, and
synchroni%e said youth elections with the comin' baran'ay polls on the last Monday of ctober 201!"
#/0 500! seeks to postpone anew the 23 polls, set by the 4ommission on 5lections to be held on
February 21, 2015, and synchroni%e it with the ne&t baran'ay elections on the last Monday of ctober
201!,( +el )osario said"
)"A" 10!12, otherwise known as #An Act to postpone the 23 elections on ctober 26, 2011(, was
enacted to pave the way for the much needed reforms that would address 237s alle'ed shortcomin's"
/owever, the author noted some criticisms levelled a'ainst it which should not be i'nored,
includin' the #e&posure of its members to a hi'hly political e&ercise where patrona'e and kinship politics
influence youth 'overnance"(
Another concern, he said, is the incapacity of 23 officers and members to enter into contracts due
to a'e, and the weak internal control mechanisms that put at risk the utili%ation of the youth council funds
from the baran'ay allocations, amon' others"
#$o answer the call for reforms, several bills have been filed and deliberated on in 4on'ress888
both for the introduction of reforms and abolition by replacin' the current youth representation system
with another that will provide 'reater transparency and accountability,( +el )osario noted"
/owever, +el )osario pointed out that because of e9ually pressin' le'islative concerns that both
chambers of 4on'ress have to attend to, the deadline to pass the 23 reform bill has yet to be met"
#0esides, brin'in' about the desirable reforms in the 23 system really re9uires a lon'er time
frame for a more comprehensive study and scrutiny,( he said"
+el )osario ar'ued that /0 500! and other similar measure introduced by his collea'ues would
provide more time for 4on'ress and other stakeholders to discuss and introduce the necessary reforms
needed to stren'then the 23 and make it effective in complyin' with its constitutional mandate"
$he said bill and other related or similar measures are now under consideration by the /ouse
4ommittee on 2uffra'e and 5lectoral )eforms chaired by )ep" Fredenil 4astro ,2
nd
+istrict, 4api%."
$he 4ommission on 5lections is reportedly awaitin' the decision of con'ress on the matter,
althou'h it is ready to conduct said elections if postponement does not materiali%e in time" ,10. dpt
NR # 3601
SEPT. 26, 2014