TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The City Special Concerns and Coordinating Office-Local Youth Development Division in coordination with the Department of Interior and Local Government Tabuk City Field Office began holding the mandatory training for newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials today, Nov. 10, aimed at empowering and capacitating the young leaders to effectively run their respective youth councils.
The training is required for all incoming SK officials before they can assume their positions. It includes learning modules on the administrative aspects, financial management, and parliamentary processes of the SK. The training also oriented the officials on the history of the SK and pertinent laws governing the youth council.
Highlighted were the reforms on the SK as stipulated in Republic Act (RA) No. 11768 or the SK Governance Reforms and Compensation Law passed in 2022.
Thanks to the new law, the SK is now a financially independent body that is entitled to 10% of the barangay funds.
The law has also expanded the age requirement from 15-17 years old to 18-24 years old and mandated the creation of a local youth development council to assist in planning and executing SK projects.
RA No. 11768 also includes an anti-political dynasty provision, which bans relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity of incumbent officials to vie for SK positions, and provides for the conduct of mandatory training programs for SK officials.
With these changes, it is hoped that this new generation of youth leaders will depart from the past image of the SK as a breeding ground of corruption and political dynasties. By Iryll Sicnao