NO NEED TO DEFER SK POLLS-- REMULLA

Instead of deferring the Sangguniang Kabataang elections scheduled on November as proposed by the Commission on Elections, House Assistant Minority Floor leader Gilbert Remulla today pressed for the swift approval of House Bill 4235 which seeks to abolish the youth body and establish youth representation through the barangay council.

Reacting  to the COMELEC request for the deferment of the SK polls, Remulla said  the COMELEC need not delay the election of  youth representatives in the barangays if  the process is integrated with the barangay elections.

            Under HB 4234, Remulla proposed that instead of electing a separate council of SK officials in the barangays, a single youth representative would be elected as a regular member of the barangay council.

            Remulla said that this would simplify the process of electing youth representatives and would spare the government millions of funding needed to facilitate SK elections nationwide. This would also give the youth a direct participation in barangay governance.

Earlier, COMELEC Chair Alfredo Benipayo have asked Congress to defer the SK elections scheduled on May due to budgetary difficulties.  Benipayo’s request came in time with the filing of House Bill No. 4234, which sought to amend Republic Act 7160 with the abolition of SK.

 Remulla pointed out that 10 years after it was formally established, serious doubts remain “whether it has been able to mobilize the youth to carry out the national vision and program.”

Instead of electing an entire SK council, Remulla proposed the election of a youth representative who would sit as a regular council member in all local government units.

Those who would be elected as youth representatives in the barangay level would then elect among themselves who would represent them in the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod. On the other hand, those who would be elected to represent the youth in their respective town and city councils would elect among themselves who would represent them in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The young Cavite congressman said the youth representatives who would be elected in various local government units would have the same power and privilege with the other members of their respective councils.

Remulla added he is also planning to file another measure, which would require the automatic representation of the youth sector in Congress to really empower the youth in national governance.