The Sangguniang Kabataan or SK (which is by law known as the Katipunan ng Kabataan) took the place

of Kabataang Barangay (KB) put in place during the dictatorial rule of then president Ferdinand Marcos.

Sangguniang Kabataan is a council meant to represent the youth in each barangay in

the Philippines.The SK was institutionalized alongside the Local Government Code in 1991. Along with the

empowerment of local government units, the code sought to empower the youth and provide an avenue

for their participation in governance. According to the code, the SK is responsible “to decide on important

issues affecting the youth of the barangay” and “to carry out the objectives of the youth in the

barangay.”

Why is it necessary?

Yes, Their motives appear reasonable, their concerns seem valid. However, a critical scrutiny is
imperative to examine this move which is considered by advocates as anti-youth. Here are the main
arguments of those moving for SK abolition:

1. The youth should focus on their studies. If students will not study, they will not graduate and
could not land a decent job. Studying is one step to success because the better your study habit
is, the more successful you will become.

Studying is important to help us grow mentally.

Studying also helps our nation to be progressive because the more educated the people are, the
better workers and citizens there will be. Aside from gaining a respectable life, studying will also
give us honor and prestige that our future generation can be proud of. And by studying we can
prepare the youth to be better and productive leaders

2. SK officials will not be able to fulfill their duties. Todays youth have lots on their plates, they Have to
focus of their studies, physical changes, cultivate social relationships, they undergo on lots of
adjustments about the changes and adaptations of their emotional and psychological aspect. Most of
them are still young, let them enjoy life being young.

3. The SK is a training ground for graft and corruption. SK is a composition of young people, which
means their minds are still developing through changes, they can be easily manipulated by corrupt
people and politicians. They do not have any experience on spending money, and to prioritize projects.
Benefits:

1. Cost Savings: Abolishing the SK could potentially save the state a considerable amount
of money.

 The SK is a waste of government resources. They are being paid, they cannot do their
obligations right its because of their studies and other activities they are still young to do
these responsibilities.
 The SK operates with its own budget, constituting 10% of the barangay’s
general fund. This covers salaries and operational expenses. the SK would allow
redirecting these funds to critical areas like education, health, and infrastructure,
enhancing financial efficiency.
 Critics highlight the SK’s vulnerability to corruption and fund mismanagement,
including irregularities like ghost workers.
 Abolishing the SK would ensure transparency and prevent public money from
being misused.
 The SK is an additional layer of bureaucracy, by abolishing it these resources can
be redirected to areas that have a more direct impact on youth developments and
welfare.

1. Reduced Risk of Ineffective Leadership: Some argue that SK officials, being young
and often still in school, may not be adequately prepared to fulfill their duties effectively.
o Without the SK, there would be no youth council with inexperienced leaders.
While youth participation is valuable, it’s essential to recognize that inexperience
can sometimes lead to ineffective decision-making.
o Abolishing the SK would eliminate the risk of inexperienced leaders making
critical policy decisions that may not align with community needs.

Practicability: (Weak)

Youth Representation Alternatives: Abolishing the SK does not necessarily mean excluding youth voices
from governance. It provides an opportunity to explore and implement alternative mechanisms that
may better address the needs and aspirations of young people, ensuring their active participation in
decision-making processes. Abolishing the SK could open up opportunities for broader youth
representation mechanisms that are more inclusive and representative of diverse youth voices and
perspectives.

(Organizations: National youth council – a government agency and policy-making coordinating body for
all youth related concerns. Non-Governmental Organizations: Non profit organizations – they work
towards specific social causes including youth empowerment and welfare)
Negative:

Not Necessary:

1. Leadership Training: The SK provides an essential platform for the youth to learn about leadership
and governance. It is argued that the SK trains young individuals to become good leaders within their
communities1.
2. Youth Voice: The SK serves as the voice of the youth in their community, ensuring that their
concerns and ideas are represented in local governance. The National Youth Commission (NYC) has
emphasized that removing the SK would disenfranchise the Filipino youth, as it is a unique feature of
Philippine democracy and the most concrete expression of the constitutional mandate encouraging
civic engagement among young people2.

Not Beneficial:

1. Loss of Representation: Abolishing the SK would remove a critical avenue for youth participation in
local governance. The NYC has stated that to abolish the SK is tantamount to depriving the youth of
their voice in local governance2.
2. Missed Opportunities: The SK’s projects and activities are designed to enhance the different skills
and abilities of the youth. Abolishing the SK would mean losing these opportunities for youth
development and empowerment1.

Prac

Argument 2: Unsuccessful attempts in the past

 Previous attempts to abolish the SK have faced significant challenges and

resistance. One specific attempt to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) was made
during the 13th Congress. A neophyte senator at the time had planned to file a bill to do
away with the local youth legislative council. However, the attempt was unsuccessful, and
the senator eventually backed off from pursuing the abolition. This indicates that there
may be strong opposition to such a move, making it difficult to achieve the necessary
consensus or legislative support for abolition.
 The existence of the SK is enshrined in the Local Government Code of the
Philippines, which would require legislative action to amend or repeal. This adds a
legal and procedural barrier to the abolition process.

Argument 3: Addressing corruption and issues

  The passage of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 demonstrates a
commitment to addressing the issues within the SK rather than abolishing it
entirely. This legislation introduced reforms aimed at promoting transparency,
accountability, and good governance within the youth council.
 By implementing measures to address corruption and other issues, the SK can be
improved and made more effective in fulfilling its intended purpose of youth
representation and participation in local governance.
 Abolishing the SK may not necessarily solve the underlying issues but could result
in the loss of a platform that can be reformed and utilized to address those
concerns.

No homework policy - sb 1792

Mr. Speaker you mentioned that homework is a primary source of stress.

Are you aware that there are other factors that affect stress?

Can you cite these different factors?

Okay now please enlighten why Homework on weekends are a bigger source of stress than the others?

Would you agree with me that homework could enrich learning?

Would youree with me that an entire hou for one suject is not enough cover all the required competency.

There fore it is imperative to give homeworks on weekends to complete the task

You mentioned about family time?

Would you agree with me that doing homework is also one way of bonding? Would you also agree that
with homework parents would be informed of their child’s academic strength and weaknesses, getting
the parents more involved.