Oro council turns down add'l honoraria for SK councilors

THE City’s Sanggunian Kabataan (SK) on Tuesday, March 12, pushed to provide honorarium not only to the SK chairman but also to its elected and appointed members, a move turned down by the City Council on Tuesday.

SK federated chairperson Michael Seno said while the State recognizes the importance of youth participation in the society, it however lacked financial support to the members of the organization as a whole.

“The Oro Youth Council receives honorarium in every meeting but for the SK elected members, and even the SK treasurer and secretary, they have no share from the 10 percent budget of the barangay,” he said.

“There should be an honorarium provided they are elected officials, bisan pamilete nalang para makaadto sa meeting (even just a budget for our fare just to go to a meeting),” he added.

He said a 1,000 to 1,500 honorarium per month for every SK member should be enough.

Councilors Jay Roa Pascual and Ian Mark Nacaya supported the move, saying “hardworking SK officials must be supported.”

However, Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. said the idea of giving honorarium to youth officials is contrary to what the 1987 Constitution states, that the State should inculcate in the youth the sense of patriotism and nationalism.

“In other words, trabaho mo diha, the law did not say nga trabaho mo kay tagaan mo ug honorarium, what is emphasized there is the sense of patriotism,” he added.

Lao said SK officials enjoy other perks, such as free tuition, among others.

The City Council went on to follow Councilor Leon Gan's proposal to pass a resolution to Congress calling to revisit SK law, and make a nationwide, permanent solution.