Regional public consultation on SK set in Butuan

By Don Manuelo Patrimonio

BUTUAN CITY, Aug. 22 (PIA) --The Department of the Interior and Local Government-XIII (DILG-13) in partnership with Fr. Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) will hold a regional public consultation on whether to institute reform or completely abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).

The half-day forum is slated on Friday, August  23 at the FSUU AVR2, this city.

Expected to join the consultation are representatives from SK, as well as from schools; youth organizations; Local Government Units leagues; National Line Agencies with youth concerns; key political leaders including Punong Barangays; and other Civil Society Organizations.

The public consultations are being done across the country and have been directed by the Office of the President and the DILG Central Office.

In a memorandum dated August 14, 2013, DILG Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero directed all DILG regions to conduct the public consultations within August 19-27 of this year.

He acknowledged that the country has always been at the forefront in Asia in promoting youth involvement in local governance through the SK, but he also cited that some sectors have raised issues regarding the effectiveness of SK as a mechanism for promoting youth leadership and engagement. It is because of this that two general views have been raised regarding the SK: one is to institute reforms to the SK structure and delivery systems, and the other was extreme—to abolish the SK in its entirety.

The result of the consultation will be the region’s position in response to the matter which will be considered in the whole discussion about the eventual fate of the youth’s participation in local governance. (FEA/DILG-13/PIA-Caraga)