INAPRUBAHAN na ng Senate Committee on Youth ang panukala para sa pag-amyenda sa Republic Act 10742 o ang Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015 upang palakasin ang partisipasyon ng kabataan sa local governance.

Ayon kay Senador Sonny Angara, chairman ng Committee on Youth, ang Senate Bill 2124 ay produkto ng malawakang konsultasyon sa SK Federations, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Budget and Management, National Youth Commission, academe, at iba pang stakeholders.

Noong Agosto, nagsagawa ng hearing ang kumite kaugnay sa implememtasyon ng RA 10742 para sa pagbuo ng mga probisyon ng bagong batas.

Kabilang sa isinusulong na pag-amyenda ang pagbibigay ng bwuanang honoraria sa SK members, secretaries at treasurers.

Sa ngayon, tanging SK chairperson ang tumatanggap ng honoraria alinsunod sa posisyon nito bilang ex-officio member ng Sangguniang Barangays.

“The issue of honoraria or in this case, the lack of it, has been cited as one of the main reasons why fewer people want to join the SK. We recognize the importance of getting the youth involved in local governance and how this experience contributes to their development as future leaders so we should provide them with all the support we can give,” saad ni Angara.

Ang honoraria ay depende sa pondo ng SK at patakaran ng Department of Budget and Management.

Para sa posisyon ng SK treasurer, inirerekomenda sa panukala na dapat may educational at career background sa fields of business administration, accountancy, finance, economics o bookkeeping.

Sa paggamit naman ng SK funds, maaari lamang itong ilaan sa student stipends, book and education allowances, sports and wellness projects, skills training, OJT assistance, cash-for-work, livelihood assistance, environment conservation, calamity preparedness, at capacity-building.

Hanggang 15 percent ng SK funds ang pinapayagan na ilaan sa mandatory at continuing training ng SK officials and members.

Nakasaad din sa panukala ang dagdag na pribilehiyo sa SK officials kabilang na ang kanilang entitlement sa Civil Service Eligibility at exemption sa National Service Training Program.

“The work of improving our SK system must continue. The SK, appropriately reformed and capacitated, remains relevant and much-needed. The youth should be given a place in the everyday business of building our nation and serving our people,” diin ni Angara. (DANG SAMSON-GARCIA)