|
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Cabaero: SK is anticipating
By Nini B. Cabaero
Beyond 30
The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) is pregnant. Given time and if resolute enough to see the bigger picture in this recent test of pregnancy, the SK might come out a stronger organization. Then, calls for the SK’s abolition would be forgotten.
Two SK officials were found to have engaged in premarital sex and are with child. The SK Federation is considering imposing sanctions on the two for committing acts of immorality. It has asked the Department of Interior and Local Government for its opinion.
After the sanction, what?
How the SK leadership deals with the situation or what it does to provide guidance, not only for the two officials but also for the youth at large, could spell the SK’s future or its abortion.
The last SK elections, which were held in July last year, came at a time when the SK’s existence itself was in question. The House of Representatives (this body that has its relevance in question too) had considered abolishing the SK.
The House committee on local government approved the abolition of the SK because of the perception that it is a worthless organization that costs the government a lot of expense. There were complaints that youth elections were marked by fraud, vote-buying and other tricks formerly solely in the domain of traditional politicians.
The House committee’s decision is pending full deliberation but I am sure the question of abolishing the SK will resurrect itself come next SK elections. The situation presented by the two pregnant SK officials is an opportunity for the SK leadership to be relevant to the youth.
Having an unmarried pregnant sister or daughter or niece is not as rare as it was two decades ago. People make mistakes; young people, maybe because of their predilection for adventure or fascination with the new, sometimes fall and have accidents.
Do you make a pregnant younger sister an outcast? Do you turn her away and expose her to further ridicule? Do you require her to marry the father of the child?
How the family decides on the pregnancy defines the family’s strength, morals and capacity to love. How the SK leadership reacts to the pregnancy beyond pointing out wrong from right defines its relevance to the youth that are its constituents.
The Local Government Code created the SK as a body to initiate programs designed to “enhance the social, political, economic, cultural, intellectual, moral, spiritual and physical development of the youth in the barangay.” It is tasked to consult and coordinate with all youth organizations in the barangay for policy formulation and program implementation.
The SK leadership’s action must go beyond denouncing the practice of premarital sex by the two officials and wishing that sanctions be imposed on them. The situation gives the SK leadership the opportunity to acknowledge that teenage sex is a reality, that having sex outside of marriage is morally wrong, that getting pregnant at an early age will expose them to health problems and ridicule, and that having a child will limit their future.
And for those already with child, the SK leadership can point them to support systems for young mothers.
Here is an opportunity for the SK to show government and its constituents its reason for being. The SK as an institution is in anticipation.
(e-mail: ninicab@ sunstar.com.ph)
(December 16, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
