COMING on the heels of the national and local elections are the village officials' elections and probably that of the Sangguniang Kabataan as sanctioned by law.
Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as The Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 provides that the State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and thus promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, social well-being, inculcates in them patriotism and nationalism and other desirable values and encourages their involvement in public and state affairs.
Towards this end, the State shall establish adequate, effective and enabling mechanism and support systems that shall empower the youth and ensure their meaningful participation in local governance and in national affairs.
The qualifications enumerated in the law are: (1) an official of the SK, either elected or appointed must be (1) a citizen of the Philippines; (2) a qualified and registered member of the KK; (3) a resident of the barangay for not less than one year immediately preceding the day of election; (4) at least eighteen (18) years but not more than twenty four (24) years of age on the day of election; (5) able to read and write Filipino, English or the local dialect; and must not (6) be related within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national official or to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay official in the locality where she/he seeks to be elected; and (7) have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.
KK refers to the Katipunan ng Kabataan as stated in Rule II, Section 4 of this Act and is composed of citizens in every barangay for at least six months, who are fifteen but not more than thirty years of age and who are registered voters.
In sum, the election of these young public servants deserve the consideration of the general public they serve in their respective barangays.
Time will tell if the SK elections are relevant or deserve to be cancelled altogether.