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    New SK Law

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    Karissa Tolentino
    The document summarizes the history and reforms of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the youth council in the Philippines. It discusses how the old SK system led to issues of nepotism and corruption. The new Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act addresses these issues by implementing an anti-dynasty provision, raising the minimum age of SK officials to 18, and expanding membership and oversight of the Youth Assembly. The goal of the reforms is to empower youth participation while ensuring transparency and accountability in the SK system.

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    New SK Law

    Uploaded by

    Karissa Tolentino
    124 views2 pages
    The document summarizes the history and reforms of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the youth council in the Philippines. It discusses how the old SK system led to issues of nepotism and corruption. The new Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act addresses these issues by implementing an anti-dynasty provision, raising the minimum age of SK officials to 18, and expanding membership and oversight of the Youth Assembly. The goal of the reforms is to empower youth participation while ensuring transparency and accountability in the SK system.

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    Article on New SK Law

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    The document summarizes the history and reforms of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the youth council in the Philippines. It discusses how the old SK system led to issues of nepotism and corruption. The new Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act addresses these issues by implementing an anti-dynasty provision, raising the minimum age of SK officials to 18, and expanding membership and oversight of the Youth Assembly. The goal of the reforms is to empower youth participation while ensuring transparency and accountability in the SK system.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    124 views2 pages

    New SK Law

    Uploaded by

    Karissa Tolentino
    The document summarizes the history and reforms of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the youth council in the Philippines. It discusses how the old SK system led to issues of nepotism and corruption. The new Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act addresses these issues by implementing an anti-dynasty provision, raising the minimum age of SK officials to 18, and expanding membership and oversight of the Youth Assembly. The goal of the reforms is to empower youth participation while ensuring transparency and accountability in the SK system.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    The New Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)

    By: Atty. Karissa Faye Tolentino

    According to Jose Rizal, “Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” This translates
    to “The youth is the hope of the nation.” Cliché it may seem, but no less than the
    Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
    encourages their participation in public and civic affairs. 1 We also have the
    Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) that provides the youth with a platform to introduce
    them to governance.

    The Old SK

    Before I discuss the salient provisions of the new SK law, let me tell you a brief
    history of the SK. SK arose from the Kabataang Barangay (KB), instituted by
    virtue of Presidential Decree (PD) 684, dated April 15, 1975. The KB was
    suppressed during the presidency of Corazon Aquino because of the issue
    nepotism and political dynasty with Imee Marcos (the former president’s
    daughter), serving as National Chairman of the KB. With the enactment of the
    new Local Government Code (RA 7160) in 1991, the youth council was
    reinstituted, now called SK.

    The issues on nepotism and political dynasty again arose, with some SK
    Chairmen and SK Councilors having blood ties to incumbent local and national
    officials. Allegations of corruption, capacity to enter into contracts, and questions
    on their ability to handle large amounts of money were also present.

    But many believed that abolition of the SK was not the answer. It is the only
    avenue where young people can participate in governance. To abolish the SK is
    to restrain their voices. Reforming and strengthening the foundations of this
    institution, rather, would make it less vulnerable to corruption.

    The Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act

    With the enactment of Republic Act 10742 on January 15, 2016, the issues
    discussed above are now addressed.

    This is the first law to comply with Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution, which
    provides that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public
    service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

    It has an anti-dynasty provision, thus ensuring equal and fair access to youth
    participation in accordance with the constitution.2 As part of the qualifications of
    elective SK officials, it requires that they not be related within the second degree

    1 Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Constitution


    2 Section 10, RA 10742.
    of affinity or consanguinity of any incumbent national, regional, or local elected
    official at the city, municipality, or barangay level.

    This new law mandates that the SK Chairperson and officials cannot be below
    the 18 years of age. Those who are running for office must be aged 18 to 24 at
    the day of the election, elected at large by the youth resident in the community.

    The Katipunan ng Kabataan (Youth Assembly) expands its membership to


    include all youth of 15 to 30 years of age, who are entitled to vote for the SK
    officers. They are mandated to meet once every 6 months to review the annual
    performance and financial reports of the SK.

    This new law also provides for fiscal autonomy and a system of transparency and
    accountability. Each province, city, and municipality is also required to create a
    Youth Development Office, with paid staff, to serve as a focal point and to
    provide support.

    I believe the enactment of this new law will further enhance youth empowerment
    in the affairs of government. All the SK needs now are the young people to lead
    this change.

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