QuestionsQuestions (Republic Act No. 10742)
It is titled the “Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.” Its purpose is to establish reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), create enabling mechanisms for meaningful youth participation in nation-building, and provide for other related measures.
The State promotes and protects the youth’s physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, inculcates patriotism and nationalism, and establishes enabling mechanisms and support systems to ensure meaningful youth participation in local governance and nation-building.
The “Commission” refers to the National Youth Commission created under Republic Act No. 8044.
In every barangay, it is composed of citizens of the Philippines residing in the barangay for at least six (6) months who are at least 15 but not more than 30 years old, and who are duly registered in the list of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and/or the records of the SK secretary.
It elects the SK chairperson and members, and it serves as the highest policy-making body on matters affecting youth in the barangay. The SK must consult and secure the concurrence of the Katipunan on the formulation of its youth-related programs, plans, and activities.
It must meet at least once every six (6) months, or upon the call of the SK chairperson, or upon written petition of at least one-twentieth (1/20) of its members.
The SK consists of one chairperson and seven (7) members, elected by the registered voters of the Katipunan ng Kabataan. The chairperson, with the concurrence of the majority of SK members, appoints a secretary and a treasurer from among Katipunan members.
Within three (3) months from assumption to office, the SK must formulate a three (3)-year rolling plan called the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan, aligned with the Philippine Youth Development Plan and relevant local youth development plans. This plan becomes the basis for the Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program.
The SK approves the annual budget (annual slice of the Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program) before the start of the succeeding fiscal year, and may approve a supplemental budget if funds allow. Changes must follow existing budget rules and procedures.
The SK meets regularly once a month. Special meetings require notice to members. A majority of members including the chairperson constitutes quorum.
An SK official must be a citizen, a qualified voter of the Katipunan, and a resident of the barangay for at least one (1) year before the election. Must be at least 18 but not more than 24 on election day; able to read and write Filipino/English/local dialect; must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to certain incumbent officials; and must not have been convicted by final judgment of a crime involving moral turpitude.
The chairperson and members hold office for a fixed term of three (3) years unless removed for cause, permanently incapacitated, have died, or resigned. If during the term an official passes the age of 24, the official may serve the remaining portion of the term.
The SK chairperson automatically becomes an ex officio member of the Sangguniang Barangay upon assumption to office and chairs the Committee on Youth and Sports Development. The chairperson enjoys the same powers, duties, functions, and privileges as regular Sangguniang Barangay members.
Grounds include: repeated absences from regular SK meetings; failure to convene the Katipunan regularly; failure to convene regular SK meetings for specified periods (including for the chairperson); failure to formulate youth development plan/investment program or approve annual budget within time without justifiable reason; failure to implement programs; conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude; violations of graft/corruption and civil service laws; and failure/abuse of authority, subject to due process.
If the SK chairperson refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, resigns, dies, is permanently incapacitated, or is removed, the SK member with the highest votes in the immediately preceding election assumes for the unexpired term; if that member refuses/fails to qualify, the next highest votes takes over. The SK chairperson must call a special Katipunan assembly coordinated with the Local Government Operations Officer and COMELEC to elect a member to complete the vacant seat; the elected member serves only the unexpired portion.
Ten percent (10%) of the barangay’s general fund is set aside for the SK. Barangay income accrues to the general fund and may be kept as a trust fund or deposited in an eligible government-owned bank. SK funds have financial independence, are deposited in the name of the SK with chairperson and treasurer as signatories, and are disbursed only for youth development and empowerment consistent with annual (and supplemental, if allowed) budgets.
There is an LYDC in every province, city, and municipality composed of representatives of youth and youth-serving organizations. It assists in the planning and execution of youth projects and programs of the SK and Pederasyon at all levels.