Republic of the PhilippinesNATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 10 th National Youth Parliament RESOLUTION NO. NYP10-05 Series 2014 A RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES TO ENACT A BILL REFORMING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN TOGETHER WITH THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS AND POLICIES CONTAINED HEREIN ___________________________________________________________________ by: Committee on Participation WHEREAS, Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the state recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social wellbeing and along with it, to inculcate youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs; WHEREAS, Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act specifies that the state “recognizes its responsibility to enable the youth to fulfil their vital role in nation- building”; WHEREAS, the United Nations (UN), through its various resolutions, programs and commitment of resources, has also recognized the important role that youth play in the development of the world in which they live; the UN Action for Youth Agenda requires that the youth voice should be increased through meaningful representation, participation in community and political decision making bodies; WHEREAS, to enable these policies on youth participation, the Congress of the Philippines has enacted Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 under which an institution known as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) has been established to serve as a mechanism for the direct representation of the youth in local legislative bodies; WHEREAS, the SK was able to function as an institution for the youth and by the youth for more than two decades under which the ideals and aspirations of the youth and their collective interests were given a tangible reality and cared for; WHEREAS, because of institutional lapses, influence of partisan politics, peddling of political patronage, and other problems which the law governing the SK has failed to address, the SK as an institution in many parts of the country has been a training ground for future corrupt leaders and a breeding ground for graft and corruption and political dynasties and hence, has in many times failed to serve its purpose; Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 10 th National Youth Parliament WHEREAS, there are issues and negative implications of the efficiency of the Sangguniang Kabataan as an institutional representation of the youth which brought about debates, resolution and actions to abolish or reform the SK; WHEREAS, the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan is not the logical, reasonable and sound solution; to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan without alternative structures that can be readily be put into place would not respond to the problems that the system currently faces rather, it would do away with a mechanism that has great potential as a venue for youth participation in governance and community service; WHEREAS, reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan should be introduced in order to strengthen the said institution and properly guide the youth in local governance, community service and nation building; the weaknesses in the Sangguniang Kabataan can be addressed by effecting changes in crucial aspects of the existing policies, statutes and in their implementation; WHEREAS, Congress enacted on October 3, 2013, Republic Act 10632, otherwise known as “An Act to Postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on October 28, 2013, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act 9340, and for other Purposes”, which in effect suspended the operations of the SK throughout the country as the same expressly provides for no-appointment and no- hold over clauses for the purpose of preventing the filling of vacancies as a direct result of the postponement of elections; WHEREAS, after identifying the specific problems the Sangguniang Kabataan is facing, and considering the diversity, comprehensiveness and vitality of the issue on youth participation in which the Sangguniang Kabataan as an institution is the primary venue, it is necessary that a reform be instituted to prevent the further deterioration of the aforesaid youth institution; WHEREAS, the 10 th National Youth Parliament upholds the right of the youth for meaningful participation because it is detrimental to the youth that they have no representatives in the government, no official organization to pursue their welfare and collective interests, and no youth-sponsored programs to harness and hone the talents of their own thus the need to push for reforms on the provisions of the Sangguniang Kabataan as provided in RA 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991; WHEREAS, according to a study funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on 2006, the Sangguniang Kabataan can be a true venue of youth participation and representation in governance if and only if the powers given to the SK are fully maximized, and given due credence and respect; WHEREAS, maximization of full youth representation through addressing the specific needs and concerns of the different sectors (PWD, gender, IP, marginalized youth) and Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 10 th National Youth Parliament having a mechanism using the bottom-up approach in organizing the youth from the different local government unit up to the national scale; NOW THEREFORE, after due deliberation on the subject matter, it was- RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to strongly urge the congress of the Republic of the Philippines to enact a bill reforming the Sangguniang Kabataan as an institution for the youth, by the youth, and of the youth, together with the specific recommendations and policies contained herein, to wit: Grant fiscal autonomy to the Sangguniang Kabataan subject to usual accounting and auditing procedures, there is a need to disclose all expenditures concerning public interest requiring SK units to deposit their funds in a bank preferably government-owned and granting SK units fiscal autonomy over their allotted budget/ define the composition of the budget committee to include other stakeholders affecting the youth such as other youth organizations. The overseeing committee should be composed of DILG officers for the appropriateness of the program, and possibly a representative of the municipal budget office/COA/municipal accountant so that the Accounting Standards are properly followed; Amend RA 7160 on SK officials' age increasing the age participation in KK from 15-24 years old, but SK Chairperson must be at least 18-24 years old and the SK Kagawad must be at least 15-24 years old; Mandating that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) responsible for holding regular consultations with other youth-based organizations in the community; A bottom-up and more participatory role and policy-making functions of Katipunan ng Kabataan. The KK shall be an avenue for accessible information dissemination and communication regarding NYC and SK programs and services, and consultation for budgeting and issues affecting the youth. KK has the power to initiate or file any complaint against any erring SK Official; Ensure the maximization of existing powers of the SK by having them trained using the ISKOLAR-BOS program and other seminars WHICH SHOULD BE a real training and not mere field trip and by having the scope of such training embrace real SK concerns as identified by national and local government agencies and through the periodic consultation with youth groups and the KK mandate specific government agencies like the NYC, DOH, DepEd, DA, and LGUs and other gov't agencies to increase the degree and quality of support, supervision, and assistance to SK. Creation of a National SK Governance Academy, as NYC- capacity-building center for SK Officials and youth leaders and institutionalizing SK seal of good governance. Addition of one (1) ex-officio members representative from any community-based youth organization existing in the barangay and two (2) marginalized sector such as IPs, PWDs, women, out-of-school youth, working youth; Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 10 th National Youth Parliament Creation of a body which consists of representatives from the existing youth organizations in the barangay. The SK shall hold consultations with them and form an annual development plan; SK Benefits and Privilege: No honorarium or payment for service rendered by the SK Officials. Instead, the SK Officials are entitled to Scholarships, PhilHealth Coverage and exemption in taking NSTP/ROTC; National Youth Commission, as sole government agency responsible for SK and other youth program and service; SK Elections should not be synchronized with other elections; Institutionalize the Local Youth Development Council and create a Local Youth Development Office in all municipalities/cities/provinces, they shall be the secretariat, technical and operation support of the Sangguniang Kabataan; Youth participation in environment programs and disaster risk reduction management-climate change adaptation. The SK Chairperson shall be a member of the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. The Local Youth Development Council president shall sit as a member at the City/Municipal/Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council; Strengthening the supporting bodies of the SK: Green Brigade, Livelihood and Social Entrepreneurship Committee, Anti-Drug Abuse Youth Council, etc. wherein these supporting bodies shall be requested to submit an annual support of their activities; SK Kagawads shall hold standing committees representing specific youth sectors identified in the community; The SK shall ensure full and active participation of all sectors of the youth by providing accessible information dissemination, communication, and facilities to services in relation to the program and projects of the council; The SK shall ensure full participation of all sectors of the youth through equal representation during consultation, planning, formulation, implementing, and evaluating of all the policies and programs of the council; and The SK shall create policies and programs that are gender sensitive and responsive to the specific needs of women and other marginalized sectors of the community. The COMELEC shall ensure that the SK Candidates are capable for the office they desire: proper application process; revised application form given by the COMELEC; screening or interview that will be conducted by COMELEC or appointed professionals. Republic of the Philippines NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION 10 th National Youth Parliament ADOPTED this 17th day of May 2014 at Manila, Philippines. Certified by: (Sgd.) RAPONCEL D. ABUEG Secretary General Approved by: (Sgd.) FARAHNAZ A.GHODSINIA President