CEBU, Philippines — Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino yesterday urged the young to run and vote in the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.
Aquino, a former chairperson of the National Youth Commission, is one of the authors of the SK Reform Bill.
"I am urging the youth leaders to run and for our young people to vote and participate," Aquino said at the sidelines of the general assembly of the Cebu Newscoop where he was guest speaker.
The SK Reform Act is the first legislation in the country with an anti-dynasty provision. It prohibits relatives of elected officials up to the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.
The law also adjusts the age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.
Meanwhile, Senator Cynthia Villar who was also in Cebu said those running for either barangay or SK positions should not be required to undergo a drug test but should be allowed to do so if they want.
"Hindi pwedeng gawing mandatory yung drug test pero kung yung mga gusto ng mag- kandidato, na gusto nilang mapatunayan that they are not into drugs, eh di magpa-drug test sila na voluntary," Villar said.
Villar was guest of honor at the launch of the Kadaugan sa Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.
COOPERATIVE
Aquino, a member of the committee on cooperatives at the Senate, said coops should work closely together to rehabilitate the image of cooperatives.
"Sama sama yung mga cooperatives to help rehabilitate its image para mas mapalabas ang magagandang nagawa ng mga kooperatiba," Aquino told Newscoop members.
He said it is a reality that there are cooperatives that do not serve their purpose and are simply fly-by-nights.
"The cooperative is the most democratic structure kasi isang tao, isang vote yan. Ang cooperative ay dapat tinutulungan, tulong na nararamdamam hindi lang sa salita," Aquino said.
Cebu Newscoop is a multi-million-peso media and community cooperative with hundreds of members from news organizations in Cebu.
The group’s chairman, Elias Baquero, said the coop’s assets have grown to P50 million from P10 million in just six years since he assumed the chairmanship in 2011.
Doris Mongaya, Visayas Lead Convenor of Kilusang Pagbabago (KP), turned over 25 TESDA scholarships to the coop during the general assembly. The scholarships can help coop members who are aspiring entrepreneurs learn skills for additional livelihood opportunities. — /JMO (FREEMAN)