Dagupan council opposes SK abolition
THE Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) in Dagupan has passed a resolution batting for the retention of the Sangguniang Kabataan amidst calls to scrap the arm of the government involving youth representatives.
“The SK is an institution with a personality separate and distinct from some of its officers who are branded as indescent, to scrap the institution is illegal,” said Councilor Joey Netu Tamayo, author of Resolution No. R-5027, which was approved by the city council last week.
The resolution, sponsored by Dagupan SK Federation President John Chester Gonzales, who under the law also sits as a councilor, expresses opposition to the proposed bill seeking for the amendment of Republic Act 7160 to abolish the SK.
“If there are issues about the people running it, then they should file cases against these people and not remove the organization,” Tamayo said.
Earlier this month, Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice added his voice to calls to scrap the SK by filing House Bill No. 1122, which proposes the establishment of a Barangay Youth Council, in lieu of the SK, to be headed by the youngest elected barangay councilman and be composed of committees for sports, environment, education and culture, and the arts.
“House Bill 1122 is unconstitutional because it curtails the right of the youth to be involved in public and civic affairs and the right to be represented in all level in government, local and national as well,” reads the resolution.
Erice argues that SK has become a breeding ground for corruption and that the youth has a “waning interest” in SK elections as he cited a Commission on Elections report on the low turnout of voters.
In response, Tamayo said, “To say that it is a breeding ground for corruption etc., it is the same as saying that the whole gamut of government is corrupt, then we should change the whole government with one organization.”
Erice is further calling for the cancellation of the scheduled SK elections in October, stressing that the youth will still have their voice in government through the BYC.– Johanne R. Macob
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