Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles seeking amendments to the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 as a response to issues that were raised in the recent SK elections in 2018.
Foremost among the amendments that Nograles wishes to introduce to the SK Reform law is to ensure that SK members are compensated for their work.
“Our SK fulfill public functions, yet, besides the SK Chair, the rest are basically rendering volunteer work,” Nograles said.
Since their work is unpaid, SK Councils have difficulty filling vacancies because there are hardly any takers, he added.
Thus, Nograles is proposing that technical officers such as the secretary and treasurer, along with the seven members of the Sanggunian receive an honorarium for their service.
“This does not mean that we should refrain from paying our young leaders.”
If passed, the treasurer and secretary shall each receive an honorarium equivalent to a minimum of P1,000 per month to a maximum of P3,000 per month. Meanwhile, SK members shall each receive an honorarium of P500 to P1,000 all depending on the youth population, size and income of the barangay.
SK officials who serve their full term would also be entitled to receive Barangay Official Eligibility, which would allow them to eventually be appointed in first-level positions in the career service.
According to Nograles, the changes to the SK Reform law are minor tweaks that could reap massive benefits in terms of motivating youth participation.
“Of course, we do not enter public service because of the money. Nevertheless, this does not mean that we should refrain from paying our young leaders.”
“The rest of our public officials are getting paid, bakit hindi natin babayaran iyong nagpe-perform din naman ng official functions?” he said.
“Nagsa-sakripisyo din naman ng oras ang mga SK natin para magtrabaho para sa kapakanan ng kabataan. It’s a small price to pay on the part of the State na suklian kahit papaano ang sakripisyo at pagkukusang ito,” he added.