The NYC also suggested that relatives of elected or appointive officials up to the fourth degree of either affinity or consanguinity be banned from holding SK positions.
NYC Chairman Richie Nalupta said their proposals “would aid greatly in providing a venue where the youth can truly participate in governance.”
“These reforms will strengthen the institution, and give credibility to a much maligned political body. We believe that with these changes, the SK will truly be a training ground for young government leaders,” he said in a press statement.
At the Cebu City Council’s session last week, SK Federation President Glena Bontuyan said that in a recent assembly, SK chairpersons agreed to ask that the SK elections be held either ahead of or later than the Oct. 29 barangay elections. This is to avoid the confusion of having to vote along with the adults in choosing barangay leaders.
She also said that the federation supports the call to change the SK age bracket, a proposal endorsed by the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies.
The study, supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund, was made to assess the impact and effectiveness of the SK.
A provision containing the age requirement amendment is included in the SK Reform Bill pending before the Senate and House of Representatives.
At the Capitol today, the Provincial Board is set to pass a resolution supporting moves to postpone the synchronized barangay and SK elections.
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north) earlier said the elections will likely push through because the country’s legislative bodies no longer have time to amend the law that set the elections on Oct. 29.
There were at least a dozen bills filed during the 13th Congress that sought to postpone the barangay and SK elections.
But since the 14th Congress is still composed mostly of members of the previous Congress, the body is unlikely to change its mind on the matter, del Mar had said. (RHM)
