THE NATIONAL Youth Commission (NYC) will make an appeal to lawmakers to allow the elections for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), as well as the barangays, to proceed this year so that the youth sector can have “representation” in the creation of policies affecting them, NYC Chairperson Cariza “Aiza” Y. Seguerra said on Tuesday.

Both chambers of Congress are considering the postponement of the barangay and SK elections until May 2018.

In a press briefing at Malacañang, the NYC chief, when asked if the commission has plans to call on solons to permit the SK election to happen, said: “Of course.”

“Sa totoo lang po nalulungkot po ang National Youth Commission sa balitang yan because may ilang taon na rin po, wala pong tumatayo na SK chair at SK council (To be honest, the National Youth Commission is saddened by that news because it’s been years since an SK chair and SK council were elected),” the NYC chairperson said.

Ms. Seguerra claimed that “reforms” have been introduced to the SK to prevent a repeat of problems in the past such as conflicts in schedule between school and job obligations and the alleged influence of so-called “traditional politicians” or trapos to the young community representatives.

“So sana po kung ayaw nila ituloy ang barangay [election], maiintindihan namin. Pero sana kahit ‘yung SK naman. Sana po ‘yung SK ibigay na samin, (If they do not want the barangay election to push through, we understand that. But we hope they would allow the SK poll to happen).”

NYC was created under the administration of Fidel V. Ramos in 1995 through Republic Act (RA) No. 8044 or the “Youth in Nation-Building Act.” Under Section 6 of the law, NYC acts as “the policy-making coordinating body of all youth-related institutions, programs, projects and activities of the government.”

Last year President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed a law postponing the elections for barangay and SK officials to prevent the supposed proliferation of drug money at the barangay level, the smallest political unit under the Philippine government system.

In March, dismissed Interior Secretary Ismael D. Sueno reportedly disclosed that Mr. Duterte is pushing for a measure seeking not only to suspend the barangay and SK polls, but one that would give the President the power to appoint village chiefs.

But many lawmakers opposed such proposal, with some saying it is “unconstitutional” for Mr. Duterte to handpick new barangay officials.

The Commission on Elections has already started printing official ballots for the scheduled October 23, 2017 barangay and SK elections, and at the same time conducting public hearings around the country regarding the possible postponement. — Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

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