Aquino signs law postponing youth council elections

President Benigno Aquino III AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino has signed into law an act passed by Congress postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan elections that were originally scheduled for October 28 to allow the legislature to reform the law creating the youth councils.

The new law sets October 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015 as the period within which the Commission on Elections could set the date for the SK elections.

The signing of the law came more than a week after the Senate and the House of Representatives reconciled their versions of the bill.

Originally scheduled October 28 simultaneously with the barangay elections, the SK elections were put off to allow Congress to reforms the councils, which have been criticized as a training ground for corruption.

Lawmakers, meeting in the bicameral conference committee, adopted a provision prohibiting current SK officials from keeping their posts in a holdover capacity after their term expires at noon on November 30.

They made it clear that no appointments would be made to fill the vacancies.

Lawmakers, however, acknowledged that by agreeing to set the SK elections after a year, they also recognized the need for youth representation in the government.

None of the lawmakers proposed abolishing the SK.

“We didn’t want to wait for 2016 [barangay elections]… It’s not good if there is no youth representation for three years. That’s why we said discussions on the reforms should be rushed so that new system will be put in place,” said Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who sponsored the Senate version.

The senators and representatives also agreed to introduce a provision allowing the barangay councils to use a portion of the SK funds for youth development programs.

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