Introduction

Last January 15, 2016, former president Benigno S. Aquino III signed a new act, which is
Republic Act 10742, also known as the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015. It is an act
establishing reforms in the Sanguguniang Kabataan, creating and enabling mechanisms for
meaningful youth participation in nation-building and for other purposes. It is about the vital
role of youth in nation-building that aims to promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being, inculcate in them patriotism, nationalism, and other
desirable values, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs. In connection with
this, youth governance now plays a vital role in purusing and developing programs that will
encourage the same-age youth in the community to which they are assigned. They tend to
conduct some physical activity like sports, dance competitions, and even arts and crafts
activities. 

According to Aimee, B. (2020), Sangguniang Kabataan provides opportunities for youth

participation in formal politics. Therefore, did youth government show effectiveness in
community elections? The aims for having this SK reform law were at first very evident, as some
of the SK groups in some barangays really showed in action the engaging activity that enables
youth cooperation, and their intellectual traits were developed, including some programs that
aim to develop the social well-being of other youth to prevent them from engaging in some
not-so-good activities. This is only at first; the researchers also observed that the reforms for SK
have significance in times of crisis, as they are helping hand in hand with the barangay and
municipal officials if there is a typhoon, landslide, or other unexpected crisis. However, the
researchers want to know if the reform law for SK really has significance in terms of crisis
preparedness.

Given the fact that they can educate young children and other youth-aged people on being
prepared when it comes to unexpected crises or calamities, It seems that there are no
programs that were being done by SK members and the chairman towards this kind of unseen
circumstance. Are they too focused on engaging and outreach activities? Sangguniang Kabataan
is a council meant to represent the youth in each barangay in the Philippines. This shouldn't be
limited to doing things for youth, as they are expected to help Barngay officials with the reform
law about SK and to do social-well-being activities, especially in educating people of the
community, not only the youth, on being prepared for some unexpected calamities. They
should propose a program that will develop their intellectuality by giving them enough
knowledge on what needs to be done by people in the event of a crisis. This term is not only for
unexpected calamities but also for natural crises that can be happening or may really be
happening. Should the implementation of the SK reform law really show the significance of SK
participation in crisis preparedness? Given the fact that their scope of what they can do at their
level of governance is limited, this could be the reason why this law was applied to youth
governance, so they can have different roles of participation in their community. The
implementation of the SK reform law and its significance on crisis preparedness haven't been
identified and proven, as if there is any action that youth governance is taking to help with this
unseen issue in the community.

To provide guidance and direction among our youth leaders, especially the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK), the Sangguniang Kabataan of every barangay should also have close
coordination in municipal governance, and they should undergo intensive workshops and
trainings that will enable them to gain important knowledge on being prepared for all types of
crises that may happen. As a result, they will be able to develop programs that will help people
in their community be prepared in times of crisis. Based on the article published by Rappler
(2014), Under RA 7160, the main functions of the SK are to promulgate resolutions necessary to
carry out the objectives of the youth in the barangay; to initiate programs designed to enhance
the social, political, economic, cultural, spiritual, and physical development of the members;
and to conduct fund-raising activities. In other words, the new SK reform law broadens the
objectives of having youth governance in every community. The researcher will identify if the
SK reform law has significance for crisis preparedness. Is it enough that they are being trained
and some of them have proposed programs, and the hindrance to stopping them is perhaps a
lack of allotted budget? 

Generally, barangay officials should pursue and encourage SK members to do the programs, but
they should also help them complete them. They should also have a big role in preparing the
community for the unknown crisis that may happen to them and that will also impact them
directly. 

References:

Rappler.(2014).Why the Sangguniang Kabataan needs an

overhaul.https://www.rappler.com/moveph/70347-sangguniang-kabataan-needs-overhaul/

Department of Interior and Local Department.(2022).ENABLING THE SANGGUNIANG

KABATAAN THROUGH CBYDP.http://region11.dilg.gov.ph/v3/index.php/news-events/135-
enabling-the-sangguniang-kabataan-through-cbydp

Aimee, B. (2020).Exploring Political Socialization and Political Participation: The Filipino Youth
and the Sangguniang Kabataan in Caloocan City’s First Legislative
District.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0145935X.2020.1859364