BY: AMORGANDA Y. SALUDAR
Central Visayas, September 17 (PIA) --- “Fix SK now,” calls legislators, youth leaders and former SK officials in recent media event.
The National Youth Commission (NYC) also pushed for the urgent passage of the “Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014.”
The said bill features key changes in the Sangguning Kabataan such as the eligibility of candidates for SK, fiscal powers and additional representation for the youth at the grassroots level.
“We are reiterating our recommendation for the President to recognize the urgency of this reform,” stressed Usec. Gio Tingson, chairperson of the National Youth Commission, in a press release sent to PIA 7.
It Can be recalled, based on COMELEC’s announcement of the new date of the postponed SK elections, February 21, 2015 is seen as the deadline set for Congress to pass a law to reform the contentious Sangguniang Kabataan.
Failing to pass SK reform bill would mean going back to status quo,” said Akbayan Youth National Chairperson Rafaela David.
“We can’t go back to a flawed system. We need to move forward quickly along the Tuwid na Daan,” she added.
In this connection, National Youth Commission (NYC) noted that they are currently molding young leaders through development of a leadership and training program for local youth leaders aspiring to be part of the Sangguniang Kabataan.
“The goal of SK is to guarantee that the interests of the youth are represented in government,” said the chairperson.
It should also train them to be competent and ethical leaders who will soon take the helms of the country’s development, Tiongson concluded. (mbcn/ays/PIA7 with reports from National Youth Commission-Visayas Area Office)