Noy signs law postponing SK elections; no holdovers

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino signed on Thursday the bill postponing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections set on Oct. 28 to pave way for the reforms that the youth council needs.

Republic Act 10632 amended RA 9340 and reset the youth council elections anytime between Oct. 28, 2014 and Feb. 23, 2015.

It also does not allow current SK officials to retain their positions in a holdover capacity. The term of youth officials will end on Nov. 30, 2013.

RA 9340 amended RA 9164 that synchronized barangay and SK elections.

There have been calls to reform or abolish the SK as some lawmakers and various sectors said the youth council was becoming a school for corruption. There are pending bills in Congress either for the reform or the abolition of the SK.

Advocates of the abolition said the government would save at least P1.1 billion in election expenses by doing away with the youth councils, which was created under the Local Government Code of 1991 as a means of providing young people with representation in government.

Welcome development

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday welcomed the enactment of the law postponing the SK polls.

“We really expected that. I guess now it is definite that there will be no SK elections,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

He said the Comelec had started adjusting to the suspension of the SK polls when legislators from both the House of Representatives and the Senate signed the proposed bills for the move.

Jimenez said they delayed the printing of the ballots and the procurement of the needed election paraphernalia.

“I think what is important now is to disseminate to the people that there will no longer be an election because many are still hoping that it will push through,” Jimenez said. – With Sheila Crisostomo