Tom prefers college student for SK

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña prefers a youth leader who is now at college level to head the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Cebu City Federation.

Whoever would be elected president of the SK will sit as ex-officio member of the Cebu City Council.

"I would prefer somebody in college. If they are in high school, it's very hard because your studies will be affected," Osmeña said.

Osmeña, in an interview with The FREEMAN yesterday, said he has no specific choice from among the 80 SK presidents.

This is unlike the 2007 scenario when then Cebu City first lady and now City Councilor Margot Osmeña supported outgoing SK federation president Rengelle Pelayo. Margot, in a separate interview with The FREEMAN, will not be endorsing a candidate for SK federation because she does not know them personally.

Like her husband, Margot also said it is best to have somebody who is not in high school.

The Cebu City Council has a regular session every Friday morning so being in high school would mean that the ex-officio member from the youth league would not be able to attend their sessions or would be absent from school.

"There's no exemption and they are young. I prefer somebody who will not sacrifice their studies in school. In high school, you have to be absent," she said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued a memorandum stating Dec. 3 as the schedule of the SK federation elections.

The need for the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan to be organized at all levels through an election of president, vice-president and other officials is stipulated in the Local Government Code.

Representatives from PNP, the religious sector and the academe will serve as official observers during the actual conduct of SK federation elections.

Further, the memo provides that SK elections for the Provincial Federations and National Federation will be on December 10 and January 7, respectively. (FREEMAN)