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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
City youth join call against SK abolition
By Violeta Escartin and Rose Narie Sacla
THE youth sector in Baguio Monday joined the snowballing call for the government not to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) saying they play vital role towards national recovery.
The call was made during the public forum at the City Council session hall participated in by SK chairmen and councilmen from 128 barangays, along with student leaders from various higher institutions of learning in the city.
Councilor Leonardo Bayan Jr., youth sector representative to the City Council, said while the state acknowledges that the youth plays a vital role towards national recovery, some quarters are pushing for the abolition of the SK
Bayan also took exemption on the alleged limited power of the SK in terms of allocating the SK budget to fund identified programs and projects, that would further empower the youth.
He said the sentiments of the youth sector are not always being heard because some of the youth leaders are hesitant to voice out their problems.
As such, Bayan rallied SK chairmen and councilmen in the city to regularly report to his office the issues and concerns besetting them.
Vice Mayor Betty Tabanda, meanwhile, challenged the youth to speak out and ensure a strong political participation, particularly in decision-making policies.
"A good form of government must have good governance, wherein everybody has a part. Thus, the youth must be consulted and included in the decision-making of the city officials" Tabanda said.
Mayor Bernardo Vergara, in a speech, appealed to the SK chairmen and councilmen to help in the peace and order program of the city, particularly in barangay-based peace and order initiative programs.
He asked youth leaders to immediately report to concerned authorities any suspicious or unscrupulous activities within their respective barangays.
Vergara claimed that crimes can be prevented if the community leaders like the SK chairmen and councilmen are cooperative to authorities.
The forum dubbed "Youth Empowerment Beyond 2004" was in coordination with the Office of the President Adviser for Special Concerns (Opasc) and the Youth Without Barriers Movement.
(February 10, 2004 issue)
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