SK reform bill gets final Senate’s OK

The Senate building in Pasay. (Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Thursday approved on third and final reading a bill proposing reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015, which includes giving monthly allowances to all officers as a means of expanding youth participation in local governance.

On a 23-0-0 vote, the chamber approved Senate Bill No. 2124. It aims to further empower the SK by putting in place reforms to deal with various issues that have arisen in the past.

“In the past, there were calls for the abolition of the SK due to questions about its relevance and the supposed politicization of its youth members. I still believe that the youth should play a bigger role in nation-building and a reformed SK law will help in achieving this,” Senator Sonny Angara said in a statement following the measure’s approval.

Angara sponsored the bill as chairman of the Senate youth committee.

Honoraria are among the key aspects of the bill, which provides monthly payments to secretaries, treasurers and members of the SK.

At present, only SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria because they are ex-officio members of the Sangguniang Barangays.

According to Angara, the allowances will be charged to the SK fund, depending on what the Department of Budget and Management says.

“We put a cap of 25 percent for the utilization of the SK funds for personnel services. We did this to ensure that the bulk of the budget allocated to the SKs will go to programs and projects that will benefit the youth,” Angara said.

Through local ordinances, local governments are also allowed to provide an additional honorarium, along with social welfare contributions and hazard pay, to the SK chairperson, the elected and appointed members.

The bill also seeks to put in place projects promoting the participation of the youth and their initiation into the agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises, as well as programs and activities that address specific vulnerabilities and situations young people face.

The bill also identifies programs and projects, such as the provision of student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances, sports and wellness projects.

Skills training, summer employment, cash-for-work, on-the-job training, livelihood assistance, and capacity building for grassroots organizations and leadership are also among the programs provided under the measure.

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