BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The National Youth Commission is urging barangays to use the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) funds responsibly, dutifully and solely for youth development purposes. According to the NYC, even without the SK, it is still the mandate of the government to provide avenues for youth participation and development. It can be recalled that Republic Act 10632 postponed the SK elections on October 28, 2013 and provided no holdover after the expiration of the term of SKs last November 30, 2013. It further provided that until the new set of officials have been duly elected, the 10% SK fund shall be used solely by the barangay for youth development programs. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently released the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10632 which sets clear guidelines on the utilization of the SK funds and the creation of a Task Force on Youth Development at the barangay level. Section 2 of IRR provides that SK funds shall be allocated exclusively for (1) Youth Development Programs and Projects such as, but not limited to Capacity-Building (e.g. Leadership Training/Youth Camp Program, Employability Skills Training Value Formation, Citizenship/Nation-Building Seminar), Health Services and Adolescent Reproductive Health Program, Out of School Youth Programs, Socio-Cultural and Sports Development, Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation and other similar youth-related development programs and projects; and (2) Conduct of SK elections provided that 10% but not less than P10,000 shall be reserved in the event that SK election will be conducted. The IRR also installs the Chairperson of the Youth and Sports Development Committee in the barangay and in mandating the Barangay Task Force on Youth Development to create a Barangay Youth Development Plan. Violators of RA 10632 will be meted with a complaint to the DILG. ‘We encourage youth organizations and youth groups at the grassroots to help us monitor the use of youth funds and to engage their barangays meaningfully through the Task Force. They can report violators and best practices through the SK empowerment desk,” said Undersecretary Leon Flores III, NYC chairman. For further queries or clarifications, parties may reach the SK Empowerment Desk at the email address:skempowermentdesk@nyc.gov.ph or through mobile number: 0908-867-4964 within office hours.
