Postponing polls to allow SK reforms, says youth exec

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—The measure postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections grants Congress time to push a reform bill that includes an antidynasty provision to prevent political families from using their children to sustain their hold on power, a National Youth Commission official said here on Thursday.

Assistant Secretary Percival Cendaña, also NYC commissioner, discussed the proposal to disqualify children of elected officials from running in the SK polls during a Baguio youth advisory council forum here.

He said the proposal involves young adults, who are related to incumbent officials “up to the third degree of consanguinity.”

He said NYC welcomed the measure, which postpones the SK polls that were earlier synchronized with the Oct. 28 barangay (village) elections, since it afforded lawmakers time to amend and improve the law governing the SK. The measure is now being discussed at Congress’ bicameral conference committee.

He said part of the proposed reforms is a provision that requires all SK candidates to be 18 years old. SK membership prescribes an age limit of 15 to 21 years old, but teenagers aged below 18 could not be entrusted to sign contracts since “they do not even vote nor own bank accounts,” he said.

The reform measure also gives SK chairpersons access to a youth development fund, representing 10 percent of a barangay’s share from the annual internal revenue allotments, Cendaña said.

This youth fund is managed by the barangay, but the reforms will grant the SK control over this fund provided the money is spent on projects approved by a local youth development council, he said.

But the more controversial reform will be the antidynasty provision. “The antidynasty [provision in the Constitution] is there but is has not been enforced [by legislation] so maybe we can initiate that through the SK as an experiment to determine its impact,” Cendaña said.—Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon