Youth group decries frozen SK funds

A youth sector party list group on Thursday deplored the delay in the release of funds to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) organizations in the country, reportedly due to the failure of agencies to craft the guidelines for fund releases.

“[Some] SK chairpersons either borrow money from their respective barangay captains and other local politicians or use their own salaries to fund their programs, projects and activities, [all of] which hinder the [capacity] of youth leaders to enact their mandated duties,” Kabataan party list Rep. Sarah Elago said in House Resolution No. 2567.

The resolution urges the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Audit and other government agencies to facilitate the release of complete and clear guidelines for the use of SK funds.

The Kabataan party list has launched a signature campaign among House members calling for the issuance of these guidelines, with 26 lawmakers signing the petition so far.

According to Elago, SK chairpersons nationwide have not been able to use their funds due to delays in the release and distribution of the complete set of guidelines, even after the Department of Budget and Management rules on SK fund use have already been approved earlier this year.

Republic Act No. 10742, or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 mandates that 10 percent of the general fund of barangays shall be set aside for the SK, which shall be appropriated in lump sum and distributed solely for youth development and empowerment purposes.