Sangguniang Kabataan Reform

Reveille L. Domingo
I.

Introduction:
The ingenuity of the creation of the Sangguniang Kabataan as it is known today

was the brainchild of former President Ferdinand Marcos. 1 It developed from the ashes
of the Kabataang Barangay established during martial law. A very curious move
considering the seat of revolutionary ideas arose from academic institutions where the
youths passion for opposition flourished. However, on a closer look, it was indeed a
masterful thought. To wrest unrest from among numerous youth organizations seeking
for change in leadership, he provided them an avenue to air their grievances and to
participate in community affairs. But the world knows how this turned out: EDSA
Revolution.
In 1991, the Local Government Code 2 re-attempts to incorporate the youths
participation in public service. Chapter VIII of said law details the creation, election,
meetings, powers and functions, qualifications, term of office, privileges, and succession
of the Sangguniang Kabataan.3 For almost 20 years, this arrangement feigns success
or progress, perhaps due to the slack review, and audit it receives from the government.
Attention was drawn to the youth organization only in April of 2010 when Jane Cajes
controversy broke out. She was a Sangguniang Kabataan National Federation
President criminally charged before the Office of the Ombudsman for lack of
1 Sangguniang Kabataan. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. March 25, 2016.
Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangguniang_Kabataan
2 Local Government Code. Eight Congress. January 01, 1992. Retrieved from:
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1991/ra_7160_1991.html
3 Ibid. Sections 423-439.

transparency of funds amounting to 10 million pesos. 4 As a result, SKs reputation

started to dwindle. Petitions to abolish it gained consensus. Despite the relatively
national acceptance to rid corruption by disbanding the youth organization, the
government is not swayed. After all, the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines recognizes
the role of the youth sector in nation-building. 5 Legislators sought to reform it, and by
January of 2016, R.A. No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act was signed
into law. It effectively repealed the provisions on SK of the Local Government Code and
various other laws.
Among the several changes, the following are noteworthy. First, the age
requirement was raised from 15-17 years old to 18-24 years old. This allows youth
officials to legally enter into contracts and be held liable. Furthermore, the new law has
an anti-political dynasty provision that bars relatives of elected or appointed officials up
to the 2nd level of consanguinity from pursuing SK posts. Aside from these, SK officials
will be required to undergo leadership training to learn about good government practices
and fiscal transparency.6 All these sound good on paper, but are they effective to curb
corruption among the youth in public office?
No definite answer can be proposed as of the moment as the election of the first
set of SK officers under the new law is postponed to October 2016. In the meantime,

4 Supra note 1.
5 The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, Article. II, Section 13. February
02, 1987. Retrieved from: http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/
6 Aquino signs law for Sangguniang Kabataan reforms. Rappler.com. January
19, 2016. Retrieved from: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/120205-newimproved-sangguniang-kabataan

further discussion on this subject are speculations of the future of the youth
organization.
II.

Discussion
The Sangguniang Kabataan was not always a mechanism for corruption. Many

young officials who had served used the opportunity to implement actual change that
benefitted the youth in their community. In a study 7 conducted to evaluate the SK, its
tremendous potential to develop the next generation of leaders, engage the youth in the
community and teach them accountability, honesty and creativity was highlighted. The
study revealed that SK officials learned to source alternative funding when their budgets
were not sufficient.
They also gained skills in consulting and coordinating with various national and
local

government

units

and

non-government

organizations

to

improve

their

performance.
These findings led to the conclusion that the potentials of the SK are not being
maximized, resulting in projects that are largely limited to sports, 8 infrastructure
development and environmental protection.
Best practices showed that while negative perceptions and inherent weaknesses
weigh it down, the SK has great potential to become a true venue for youth participation
in governance. Giving the youth a seat in local governments, providing them with a
7 The Impact of Youth Participation in the Local Government Process, The
Sangguniang Kabataan Experience. United Nations Childrens Fund. 2007. p.
15.
8 The holding of sports activities is probably the most visible project the SK is
engaged in. While it may be a welcome attraction, it is overwhelmingly
dominated by masculinity.

budget mandated by law, listening to them and providing venues for them to
meaningfully take part in shaping local policies and programs could transform young
people into significant members of the community.
III.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Philippines pioneered youth and childrens participation in local governance.

While other countries are still in the process of introducing youth governance, the
Philippines, as early as 1975, had recognized the youth as viable partners in nation
building through the creation of the Kabataang Barangay. 9 Hence, the fact that such
youth organization stumbled at some point that it should be threatened with abolition.
With that, to ensure its existence, recommendations on how to properly execute
it and keep it in check are proper. First, elected youth officials must conduct
consultations with their constituents. They must ask the latter what concerns them, what
they urgently need, or what picks their interest.
SK must be the unifying force of the youth sector who are spiritually, financially,
and culturally varied. It must be inclusive. Activities must involve not only the prevailing
males, but also the females and the great number of LGBT youth. Active participation
and genuine concern cannot be expected from their constituents if some are left out.
The benefits SK may bring about must redound to everyone.
Second, SK must hold not only physical activities, but also ones that feed the
soul and the mind. There is a mismatch between SK projects and what the youth really
need. Based on the survey, the top three SK projects deal with sports concerns,

9 Ibid. p. 10.

environmental issues, and infrastructure. Programs on education and training, health

and nutrition, anti-drug abuse and livelihood were hardly mentioned. 10
Information dissemination ensures that the officials themselves are aware of their
duties and responsibilities, and the constituents are informed of their rights as youth and
what to expect from their SK. Knowledge of ones power and authority engenders
creativity and resourcefulness.
Third and probably the focal point of this endeavor is transparency. Sure,
mechanisms have been placed under the new law guaranteeing the least possible room
for corruption. But the only way to realize this noble goal is the election of officials who
have genuine concern for their fellow youth. The youth needs a leader who can
efficiently manage his time and prioritize. He must have a good interpersonal and
leadership skills. Above all, he must be of proven competence and integrity.

10 Ibid. p. 27.