Youth office denies invite for SK officers to join forum

CEBU, Philippines — The Local Youth Development Office has cleared the hoax announcement regarding the Cebu City Youth Office's invite to all Sanguniang Kabataan officers to attend a forum.

Jess Anthony Dela Cruz, head of the Local Youth Development Office, said that they immediately knew about the fake announcement addressed to the SKs through social media messages.

"Nakahibaw mi the day before (about the hoax).  Friday murag naay nang text ba ug nang chat sa FB," Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz added they still don't know where the fake announcement came from.

"Wala. Dili nalang ko mo-divulge kay lisud na," Dela Cruz said.

By law, only the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is authorized to send a communication to SK officers about any training or any other activities.

"By law,ang  DILG ra gyud ang makpatawag ug communication regarding gyud ana. Ang mga mandatory trainings sad ang amoang office, Local Youth Development Office, is part pud mi sa federation, part mi sa team," said Dela Cruz.

He also said that if they will conduct trainings, it will come from the LYDO and the other aforementioned authorized organizations.

Aside from the SK gathering held at the Cebu Institute Technology University to prepare new SK members of their roles and responsibilities, they do not have anything calendared for now.

"Kato ra gyung sa CIT nga gi-apilan sa mga SK members, and so far mao ra to. So kung naay mga nisunod nga invitations, I don't know kung asa or kinsa to gikan," said Dela Cruz.

He also said that they texted all SK members regarding the issue that they can get the memo about orientations from the DILG only.

They also informed the members that they can get the memorandum and the complete information about orientations from the DILG Office today during office hours. — Rena Mae Gocotano, CNU Intern (FREEMAN)