Reform, yes; abolition, no

SENATORS will not support calls to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan, but will push for systematic reforms on how the barangay-based youth council will operate.

Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV made this statement yesterday after reporters sought his views on the issue after the bicameral conference committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives last week approved the measure postponing the holding of the SK elections this year.

Aquino, former chairman of the National Youth Commission, is a member of the Senate panel in the bicameral conference.

“It is the right time to have SK reforms so that for the next batch there will be an organized and better system,” he said.

The senator said the legislature is collating proposals on how to recast the SK, which was criticized for being used as a vehicle to introduce young politicians to corruption.

“We have a year to reconcile (the proposals) and craft a law with a better system which will apply to the next batch of SK officials,” he said.

The bicameral committee measure also provides that the next SK elections shall be conducted between Oct. 28 2014 and Feb. 23, 2015. /Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag