SK elections postponed to make way for reforms

Iloilo City: The Senate passed on third and final reading a bill postponing the elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) from February 21 this year to the last Monday of October 2016. This will pave the way for restructuring and reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan, according to Senator Benigno Paolo “Bam” Aquino. The reforms will focus on the anti-dynasty provision in the barangay level, change of age limit from 15 to 17 years old to 18 to 24 years old for SK members, the holding of mandatory leadership training and education and the creation of a Local Youth Development Council, which will include other youth organizations in the barangays. Aquino, who visited the city on Friday, said the SK must first be reformed and restructured to effectively represent the needs and concerns of the youth sector. He added that the postponement should give both the Lower House and the Senate to implement the reforms before the SK election is joined with the barangay elections. Aquino is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.