SANGGUNIANG Kabataan (SK) leaders in Iloilo City have been ordered to immediately organize special elections to fill up vacant pots in their respective youth councils, or face a zero-budget year in 2019. “Based on the memorandum our department has issued, they have to complete their SK officials because we will not be receiving their proposed budget for 2019 if the signatures of the SK officials are not complete,” said Ferdinand L. Panes, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) city office. The memorandum also stated that the 2018 SK plans and budgets shall only be subjected to technical review by the DILG office and the Local Youth and Development Office (LYDO )upon proof of compliance. Mr. Panes issued the directive to SK leaders last Jan. 3. The special elections will be supervised by the respective SK chairpersons, Commission on Elections, board of election supervisors headed by the DILG with non-government or civil society group representatives as members. DILG records show that more than 300 SK positions across 75 barangays are vacant. Mr. Panes cited the lack of benefits, honorarium, work, and school among the reasons behind the resignation of some elected SK officials. “We hope all the vacancies will be filled-up because we are planning together with SK Federation and LYDO to conduct mandatory training, which is a requirement before assumption of SK officials both appointed and elected,” Mr. Panes said. — Emme Rose S. Santiagudo

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR