Binay backs appointment of SK reps nationwide

Vice President Jejomar Binay. FILE PHOTO

LINGAYEN, Philippines — Vice President Jejomar Binay supported the appointment of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) representatives in local legislative bodies, saying youth representation should continue.

In a news conference here on Friday, Binay said the SK should not be abolished so the youth will continue to be represented in the city and town councils and provincial boards.

“But they should not be elected anymore. We’ve had sad experiences in previous SK elections,” he said, referring to allegations of anomalies and corruption in the SK.

Binay was here on Friday as guest of the closing ceremonies of the 6th National Scout Venture Camp at the Lingayen beachfront here.

Under the law, Filipino citizens aged 15 to 17 years elect a chair as their representative in their village council. The SK village chair automatically becomes a member of the city or town SK federation, whose chair is also elected to be their representatives in the city or town council.

The city and town chairs, in turn, elect their representative to the provincial board.

But in October 2013, President Aquino signed into law an act passed by Congress postponing the SK elections originally scheduled for Oct. 28 to allow Congress to review the law that created the youth legislative body.

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, who accompanied Binay here, said Congress was given a year to agree whether to introduce amendments to the SK law or to abolish it.

“Personally, it should be reformed because we have a lot leaders who came from SK,” Gatchalian said.

He said several anomalies have been taking place in the previous SK elections.

“The anomaly begins during the [election] campaign itself. In fact, it starts during the registration of members because in the SK, it’s like a race on who can register more members,” Gatchalian said.

Here, he said, money was used by parents of candidates, teaching the youth how to use money to get elected.

“So when they win, they try to recoup their expenses during the campaign,” Gatchalian said.

Under the law, the SK is entitled to a 10-percent share of the barangay’s internal revenue allotment.

“This is why, I agree that SK chairs should be appointed so that we prevent them from the experience of using money to win,” Gatchalian said.

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