Page 4 - 2013 Paganninawan 3rd Quarter
P. 4

4

                 DILG R1 conducts SK Public Consultation




                                                                With the mandate of the President to the Department to study
                                                                and  submit  a  report  on  the  abolition  of  the  Sangguniang
                                                                Kabataan  (SK),  the  Department  of  the  Interior  and  Local
                                                                Government    Regional  Office  1  (DILG  RO1)  conducted  a
                                                                Regional  Consultation  at  the  DILG  Regional  Office
                                                                Conference  Hall  and  convened  concerned  stakeholders
                                                                and engaged them in a dialogue.

                                                                The   Regional   Consultation,   as   stated   during   the
                                                                Welcome  Message  of  Director  Corazon  P.  Guray,  is
                                                                aimed   to   generate   region–specific   perceptions   and
                                                                broad–based  consensus  on  two  (2)  opposing  views  –  to
                                                                abolish SK or cause its reform.

                                                                To  further  enlighten  the  concerned  stakeholders,  LGOO
                                                                VI  Lily  Ann  O.  Colisao,  Regional  Focal  Person  on
                                                                youth  and  child  –  related  Programs  of  DILG  Region  1
                                                                shared  a  backgrounder  on  the  SK  based  on  the  2007
                                                                Study  of  the  UNICEF  and  DILG,  LGC  and  the
                                                                materials  provided  by  the  DILG  Central  Office. Audio–Video
                                                                Presentations  (AVPs)  on  interviews  and  news  reports
                                                                exhibiting  the  two  (2)  opposing  views  were  also
                                                                shown to the participants.

                                                                After  the  presentations,  the  dialogue  proper  commenced.
                                                                The  participants  started  to  share  their  sentiments,
                                                                opinions  and  experiences.  The  SK  critics  pushed  for
                                                                the  abolition  due  to  corruption  not  only  of  the
                                                                organization  and  its  finances  but  also  of  the  youth’s
                                                                judgment  and  conscience.  They  believed  that  SK
                                                                is  not  the  only  venue  through  which  the  youth  may
                                                                be  involved  in  local  governance,  socio-political  and
                                                                civic   activities.   They   argued   that   the   youth   can
                                                                participate  in  policymaking  and  articulate  or  represent
                                                                their   rights,   interests   and   welfare   through   other
                                                                LGU councils and special bodies.

                                                                On  the  other  hand,  the  Pro-reform  is  firm  that  SK
                                                                should  not  be  abolished  but  be  subjected  to  restructuring
                                                                and  modifications  including  the  rules  and  by–laws
                                                                that  govern  it.  They  believed  that  SK  is  a  development
                                                                partner  and  is  a  big  help  in  implementing  LGU
                                                                projects.   Besides,   they   shared   that   abolition   of
                                                                SK is not a solution and will not guarantee the elimination of
                                                                corruption in the bureaucracy.

                                                                Recommendations  were  also  solicited  from  the  participants.
                                                                The    Pro–Abolition   advocates   recommended      the
                                                                strengthening   of   youth   volunteer   organizations   and
                                                                the  representation  of  the  youth  through  a  regular
                                                                Sanggunian  Member.  On  the  other  hand,  popular
                                                                proposals   for   SK   reform   include   fiscal   autonomy;
                                                                (continued at page 7)
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