Youth group urges passage of SK reform bill

MANILA, Philippines—The National Youth Commission (NYC) on Wednesday has called anew for the passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) reform bill, also known as the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014, amid a recent pronouncement made by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the youth council polls will be postponed this year.

BACKSTORY: Comelec sees postponement of SK polls

In a statement, NYC Chairperson Gio Tingson said that they are expecting Congress to pass the bill into law once it resumes session on May 2.

“We cannot have a repeat of the past. SK reform must be approved especially with the looming postponement… As Congress resumes on May 2, we urge our representatives in Congress to deliver as they promised,” Tingson said.

He said that House leaders have committed to pass the reforms in the SK, with the SK reform bill consolidated in a Senate committee last August 2014 and approved by the House committee on local government last January.

The bill, once passed into law, will adjust the age bracket for elected youth officials and voters, provide an anti-dynasty clause, and grant fiscal autonomy to the youth council.

The bill also provides that elected officials in the SK should be at least 18-years-old, a bid to “professionalize” the institution.

“We are confident that this bill will fix SK and ensure meaningful representation for young people,” he added.

Acting Comelec Chair Christian Robert Lim said that House Bill 5209, the bill which will reschedule the SK elections from Feb. 21, 2015 to October 2016, was received by the Office of the President last March 4. If it remains unsigned by President Benigno Aquino III on April 4, the bill will automatically become a law as provided for under the 1987 Constitution.

The election body has since stopped all bidding processes related to the SK elections. AC