REFORM THE SK NOW!

Mr. Speaker, esteemed colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

I rise today to bring to the attention of this august chamber a subject, which I believe is of great importance to all of us as this concerns the Filipino youth, the future of our motherland.

Last year, we all witnessed the elections of the Liga ng mga Barangay and the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation. I thought it will just be an ordinary electoral exercise just like in the past. Pero mali pala ang akala ko, Mr. Speaker. Ang naging halalan ng Sangguniang Kabataan na naganap noong nakaraang taon ay katulad na rin ng isang maruming halalan.

Sa aming bago at maliit na lungsod ng San Juan, nakalulungkot man ang amining nangyari din ang ganitong manipulasyon sa pagboto sa kagagawan ng ilang tiwaling opisyal at magulang.

The City's present SK Federation President won the position through fraud, undue influence, intimidation and bribery, orchestrated by no less than her father - who is a former barangay official, a former SK president, a barangay kagawad in collusion some other financial backers.

Prior to the elections, our SKs were billeted by the group of these men at Contemporary Hotel in Sta. Mesa. They were served with food and beverages and given fat cash in exchange of their support and vote for the City's incumbent SK Federated President.

The conduct of the selection of the City's Sangguniang Kabataan Federation Officials was totally farcical, fraudulent, and a complete travesty to the youth's democratic exercise. It was a total mockery to the SK's democratic and free elections. Marahil ay nangyari din ito sa maraming lugar ng bansa.

Sadyang nakakalungkot na ang mga kabataan, sa kanilang murang edad, ay iminumulat ng kanilang mismong magulang sa maduming uri ng pulitika. Ito ang rason kung bakit tinutulak ko ang isang reporma. Hindi ko matiis na ang ating mga kabataan ay ginagamit ng mga tiwaling pulitiko at maging ng kanilang mga sariling magulang para sa sarili nilang interes.

Modesty aside, Mr. Speaker, during my term as the City's Chief Executive for nine consecutive years, I never intervened, meddled or influenced the outcome of the SK elections from the barangay up to the City level. Even my mother, the incumbent San Juan City Mayor had never intervened in the Barangay and SK elections. We both believed that we must let the youth freely exercise their right to choose their leaders according to their beliefs and convictions.

The SK should stand as the representative body of the youth, advancing meaning participation in community development, addressing the concerns of their fellow youth and more importantly, a training ground for young idealist leaders.

The youth should be totally free from dirty and traditional politics. They should be shielded from the influence of partisan politics and practices of political patronage. Instead, their idealism and progressive aspirations should be flourished.

I have not been a member of the Kabataang Baranggay during the time of President Marcos. But I spent my youth doing community service and serving the youth through my active involvement in youth organizations such as the Junior Chamber International – Philippines or Philippine Jaycees, Kabataan ng Masang Pilipino, Estudyanteng Responsible para sa Aktibong Pamamahala and the Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga.

My personal experience in these organizations did not only provide me with insights about the importance of the youth’s participation in community development, it has led me as well to a conclusion that young as they are, the Filipino youth is a crucial segment in our nation’s development and progress. Their participation and contribution are significant and must be taken into account.

Indeed, the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building. Further, it obliges the State to inculcate in them love of country, nationalism and patriotism and shall encourage their involvement in the public and civil affairs.

Communities should acknowledge the energy and ideas of the youth especially the young emerging leaders. By doing so, we will be developing their full potential and become bright and responsible leaders of this country.

This government and society at large have equal responsibility to provide the youth with an environment that is conducive to bringing about a mature and responsible youth for the coming generation to lead a better life.

Mr. Speaker, since the enactment of the Local Government Code of 1991, almost two decades after the inception of the Sangguniang Kabataan, it showed that the performance of the Sangguniang Kabataan has been generally weak and failed to uphold the mission for which the Office was created.

I can now understand why a lot of our colleagues here in this august chamber are now proposing the total abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan. Like many others, they are probably frustrated with what is happening with the SK.

Although it is indeed quite sad for a fact that the noble mission of the framers of the Local Government Code of 1991 regarding the Sangguniang Kabataan was not able to materialize, this representation still believes that the youth deserves a chance. And it is our role to guide them and be good models to these aspiring leaders of the country.

This representation still believes that the Sangguniang Kabataan, as an institution, should not suffer from the undue practices injected and infused by adult individuals and callous politicians.

The present law on SK is bereft of measures and mechanisms that will shield the youth from corruption, manipulations and influence by some politicians. In fact, in my studies, most of the Sangguniang Kabataan Presidents in some municipalities and cities are either sons or daughters of municipal and city officials. It is quite frustrating that even if we have extended our efforts to make the SK Federation an effective tool and avenue for the youth for training in governance pursuant to its mission, we still fall short. It is because the present Sangguniang Kabataan set-up has proven to be flawed.

The solution to these problems is however not its abolition, but meaningful institutional reforms.

Abolition would not address or solve our long-standing problem. It would only aggravate and would contradict with our principle of enhancing and strengthening the empowerment of the people especially the youth at the local level.

It is high time for us now to institute reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan.

As the present law suggests, the composition of the Sangguniang Kabataan must be within the age range of 15-17 years old; which is below legal age. That is why Mr. Speaker, the Sangguniang Kabataan cannot by themselves enter into contract and agreement nor the required maturity of taking the responsibility for governance and participation in community activities and in nation building.

Sa ganitong murang edad, Mr. Speaker, wala pang masyadong kamuwang-muwang sa pulitika ang mga bata, at dapat sana ay pag-aaral ang tanging prioridad nila. Ito marahil ang dahilan kung bakit madalas ang mga MAGULANG at mga tiwaling pulitiko, ang pilit na nakikialam sa proseso ng SK election. Ang gumagawa ng mga galaw ay ang mga magulang, hindi ang mga kabataan. Para sa interes ng mga magulang at hindi ng mga kabataan.

I believe Mr. Speaker, that in order for the Sangguniang Kabataan to be more responsive to their tasks and challenges, we should raise the age requirement to 18 - 25 years of age. This age requirement is more sound and reasonable as this is the legal age and also the age wherein a person has reached a certain level of maturity and capable of taking responsibilities.

At para mapangalagaan ang kapakanan at interes ng kabataan, there should be a protective mechanism for the SK to be free from manipulations, control, undue influence and domination from traditional politicians. Sa ganitong sistema, magkakaroon ng kalayaan sa pagpili ang ating mga SK sa kanilang ibig na mamuno. Sa aking paniniwala, kung may kalayaan sa pagpili ay mayroong matibay na suporta ang isang lider mula sa kanyang mga nasasakupan kung kaya’t ang lider nama’y batid niya ang pananagutan sa kanyang mga kasapi at kasama.

Kailangan na rin patatagin ang KATIPUNAN NG KABATAAN sa bawat barangay na binubuo ng lahat ng rehistradong kabataan sa isang barangay. Being a basic unit, the Katipunan ng Kabataan shall be strengthened to serve as the highest policy-making body of the youth in the barangay.

Ang Sangguniang Kabataan ay dapat na maging tagapaglingkod ng interes ng kabataan hindi ng mga MAGULANG at tiwaling pulitiko!

With these Mr. Speaker, I will incorporate these proposals in a bill which I would formulate and craft in the coming days. Ang Sanggunian ng Kabataan ay hindi lubos at ganap na napakinabangan ng kabataang Pilipino dahil sa manipulasyon at pangingialam ng mga magulang, matatanda at mga pulitiko. Sagka sa interes at kagalingan ng kabataan ang pakikialam ng mga pulitiko’t matatanda sa SK.

It is high time to introduce reforms!

Let us not lose the country's last and only hope – the Filipino youth. Ang Sangguniang Kabataan ay para at  sa mga kabataan lamang, at hindi para sa mga magulang o pulitiko.

Bilang pang wakas, pahintulutan ninyo po akong ibahagi itong famous Chinese proverbs na naging gabay ko sa paglilingkod: “IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE GROWTH IN A YEAR, YOU PLANT GRAINS; IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE GROWTH IN TEN YEARS YOU PLANT TREES; BUT IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE GROWTH IN HUNDRED YEARS, YOU GROW PEOPLE”.

Marami pong salamat Ginoong Tagapagsalita at sa aking mga kasama. Mabuhay ang Kabataang Pilipino!