The young and the restless

By Marifi Jara

A battle is brewing among our youth.

The national organizations of student councils are calling for the abolition of the Samahang Kabataan. They claim that the SK, though originally well-intended as a venue for youth representation in our government, has proven to be a corrupted breeding ground for our future politicians.

SK officials, naturally, have disputed this stance, saying that the SK remains a meaningful public body that speaks for the needs of the country’s youth and that the corruption merely stems from the bad example set by their elders in politics.

An informal and random survey of my students indicate that they are not too certain about where they stand on the issue, but all apparently agree that the SK has not really done much in their respective hometowns. They are, in fact, indifferent about the scheduled SK election that will coincide with the October 29 barangay election. Deadma is their word for it. They don’t really care because the SK has not in any way been significant in their lives.

Personally, judging from the case of my barangay, I have likewise not heard of any momentous role played by the SK. Most I heard that they’ve done is organize youth parties for Valentine’s Day or during the Christmas holidays.

Nonetheless, I am not altogether in favor of its abolition. Though few and far in-between, there are, after all, SK representatives elsewhere in the country who have proven that they can make a difference in the community. 

What we need really is a re-assessment of the functions of the SK.

As it is, the SK has merely become another arm for patronage politics. When they have projects or programs, they are hard-pressed for funding, which they need to seek out from local government officials. And that becomes a source of utang na loob.

Why not have an allotment for the SK within the local government’s budget? Their allocation should be based on a program that they themselves will draw up, present and defend before the appropriate local council.

And program possibilities are endless! Aside from just organizing parties or summer sportsfests, which are fine activities for our young, the SK can be, or make that should be, at the forefront of developing livelihood projects for their out-of-school friends, they can be the police force’s partner in the campaign against illegal drugs, they can help the social welfare agencies in the fight against domestic child abuse, and even act as consultants to our teachers on how education could be made more relevant and appealing.

The disbursement of the approved funds should be monitored according to our set laws, and to maintain responsibility the SK officials should be made liable for any irregularity. If properly implemented, this will be a good training ground for our future government leaders on the morals of accountability and true public service.

The young have so much energy to dispense. Even while busy with their studies, they can always find space to do some work for their barangays if they are helped and taught by their elders about time management. Their political inexperience is a strength for it allows them to carry their idealism into our muddled political arena. They can, indeed, prove to be the hope of our country.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/roots/)

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