City of San Fernando -- Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Friday expressed high hopes for the new set of Sangguaniang Kabataan (SK) or youth council officials this year adding that he believes in the statement of the National Youth Commission that this term’s officials will be “a new breed” of leaders.
“Our dream when we implemented the SK Reform Act of 2015 was to change the image of the SK, make the programs more responsive programs and policies and make the youth feel that they are important,” Aquino told SunStar Pampanga during an interview in Porac town Friday.
As for areas with no SK representation, the barangay councils, he said, would have to assign. But Aquino said that while there are a few with no complete SK council, most have their own SK chairman.
Aquino also has high hopes with the ongoing mandatory training of the SK here. He added that training should not just be one-time but done on a regular basis.
The senator added that this term will also be a way to evaluate if the reforms have contributed to the betterment of the SK and if the new SK officials are up to the task of really working for change for the youth sector.
The reforms on the SK include anti-dynasty provision especially in the barangay level, the age limit from 15 to 17 years old to 18 to 24 years old for SK members, mandatory leadership training and education for the SKs and the creation of Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) to include other youth organizations in the barangay.
The new law also mandates the creation of the LYDC, a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.
The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.
Co-sponsored and co-authored by Senator Bam during his term as chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress, Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act is the first law in the country with an anti-political dynasty provision which prohibits relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.