The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK, Youth Council) elections on Monday may be the country’s last if senators will have their way.
They claim that these youth councils have become a drain on government resources and a breeding ground for bad politics.
Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Sen. Edgardo Angara said Congress would push for the “removal” of the SK after Monday’s elections.
“Having too many elections is costly. Let’s economize. The President wanted to continue with the elections but there was a consensus to synchronize it afterwards, including removal of SK elections,” Enrile said on dzBB’s Nimfa Rogado.
Enrile pointed out that youth leaders were introduced to illicit political activities through the SK based on controversies hounding the youth councils.
Angara said the SK leaders could be “folded into” the barangay council which will have youth representatives.
“This way we can do away with having a separate election for SK leaders and save money,” he said.
Enrile said a number of local government leaders had suggested that the SK be abolished and replaced by youth representatives elected in the provincial, city and municipal boards.
Enrile has taken the idea further by suggesting that barangay elections be abolished with the mayors tasked with designating their own leaders for each barangay.
“The barangay elections have shattered the unity of our communities. You compound the peace and order problem, create more partisanship and social disunity in every nook and corner of the country with this system,” Enrile said.
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