“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan”, a famous line from the Dr. Jose Rizal’s A la Juventud Filipinas (To the Filipino Youth).
Throughout the decades, the youth of our country has fared well in taking up that challenge. Youth concerns matter to everyone. And why not, the continuity of what we have founded in our time and age fully rests on the youth. This is the reason why we make sure that we guide the youth to paths that would make them responsible individuals, ready to take on the challenges that are waiting for them.
The Philippines pioneered youth and children’s participation in local governance.The right of children and young people to participate in governance has been recognized as early as the 1970s by the Philippine government through PD603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code. It recognized the youth as viable partners in nation building through the creation of the Kabataang Barangay. The Local Government Code of 1991 further provided them the avenues for participation in all levels of local government, particularly in local legislation and implementation of programs and projects.
This is through the organization of the Katipunan Kabataan and election of officers for the council, the Sangguniang Kabataan.However, the Sangguniang Kabataan, which was envisioned as a venue to develop the next generation of leaders, received criticisms for its alleged flaws and failure to respond to the needs of the sector it represents. Though it has been touted as a landmark institution that promotes the engagement of the youth in governance, this study reveals a system weighed down with deep-rooted problems. The study underscores the need for greater support from adults, especially from barangay leaders who serve as role models for the youth.
The future of good governance rests on the shoulders of the youth.It is imperative that young people themselves actively take part in their own development and the development of their communities. The Sangguniang Kabataan is a venue for young people to reach out and engage their fellow youth in carrying out positive change in society. In fact, the study stresses the importance of strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan, or the village youth assembly, which is the mass base of young people in each barangay from which the Sangguniang Kabataan is elected.
The SK is a challenge to Filipino youth to step up and seize the opportunity to lead and be heard.The leaders of today should create an enabling environment for positive youth engagement and empowerment in order to help shape the leaders of tomorrow. This paper aims to specify the different roles of the Sangguniang Kabataan provided by the law and to see of the youth organization is living up with what it is expected to do. It will also provide the different reasons why the abolition of the SK is being pushed through and why some people are against abolition.
This paper aims to answer the following questions: * What are the functions of the Sangguniang Kabataan? How does Sangguinang Kabataan helped in the development of the youth? * What are the limitations and challenges the Sangguniang Kabataan is facing? * What are the areas to strengthen and to improve in this youth organization? * Is Sangguniang Kabataan inefficient and irrelevant? This paper serves as a guide. It contains recommendations to improve more the identified strengths and to address the identified weaknesses. This paper will be part of the formation of youth leaders worthy to continue the works our present leaders have started.Statement of the Problem.
The Sangguniang Kabataan serves as the voice of the youth in the local government. It is a prototypical example of youth participation in local governance. It gives the youth the privilege to be represented and be involved in societal affairs. It is mandated in the Constitution that the youth should be part of national affairs.
However, various arguments arise emphasizing that the Sangguniang Kabataan is ineffective and irrelevant. With this, the continuous existence of the Sangguniang Kabataan becomes highly questionable. How does Sangguniang Kabataan help in the development of the youth?Is Sangguniang Kabataan an effective tool in the development of the youth? What are the good practices and lessons to be learned in Sangguniang Kabataan? Significance of the Study The Sangguniang Kabataan was created for youth empowerment. The SK should be the representative of the youth in the local government.
They should provide the youth with programs that would enhance their overall personality. However, a thorough analysis of the Sangguniang Kabataan would lead people to a question: is the Sangguniang Kabataan serving its purpose? Legislators and local leaders say the SK is not.And, funny as it may seem, some of the youth themselves think that the SK is not functioning as it was designed to be. This study aims to present the functions and duties of the Sangguniang Kabataan at barangay level.
Intends to show what needs to be done in order to relive the spirit of youth representation. Theoretical Framework The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified by the Philippine government, states that children are neither objects nor helpless creatures. They are individuals with absolute rights. Yet, they are also members of society with responsibilities appropriate to their levels of development.
UN CRC clearly recognizes children’s right to participate in the community. Even before the ratification of the UN CRC, however, there were already opportunities for children and youth to participate in governance. Filipino youth have shown they want and deserve a voice in their communities. Youth participation in governance: from the 1970s to the present 1970s 1.
PD 684 created the Kabataang Barangay composed of all youth 15-18 years old. 2. The Marcos administration expanded the age bracket to 15-21 years old and created the Pambansang Katipunan ng Kabataang Barangay under the Office of the President.Critics believe this countered militant youth activity and only exposed the youth to graft, corruption and opportunism.
1980s 1. The Kabataang Barangay became less popular with the youth. 2. Youth turned to student activism.
3. The League of Filipino Students (LFS) lobbied for the re-establishment of student councils and other rights lost during Martial Law. 4. Student activism waned after the EDSA revolution.
5. Konsultahang Kabataan was organized in February 1987; the NYC was proposed. 6. The Aquino administration created instead the Presidential Council for Youth Affairs (PCYA) with limited powers.
1990s 1. The National Youth Commission (NYC) was created as a national agency. 2. The 1991 Local Government Code abolished Kabataang Barangay and created the Katipunan ng Kabataan and the Sangguniang Kabataan that covers youth ages 15-24 years old.
3. Age bracket changed to 15-18 years old. present..
. 1. Age bracket again changed to 15-17 years old. 2.
The 2001 Regional Youth Summit tackled problems in SK. 3. House Bill 185 aims to replace the SK system with “Youth Sector Representatives”Researches show that involvement in governance at the local level can help develop young people’s leadership skills and confidence. Through participation in the democratic process, young people are empowered.
They gain experience and learn new skills, become responsible and accountable, develop confidence, and forge meaningful connections with other youth and adults. The SK, the governing body of the KK, was designed to make this happen. SK officers represent the youth in their respective local government councils and have the same functions and privileges as any member of the council.They have a term of three years and receive 10 percent of barangay funds for youth projects.
So far, only three, instead of four SK elections, have been held since 1992 due to several amendments to the regular three-year term of SK officials. Specifically, the functions of the SK are to: • promulgate resolutions necessary to carry out the objectives of the youth in the barangay; • initiate programs designed to enhance the social, political, economic, cultural, moral, spiritual and physical development of the members; • conduct fundraising activities; consult and coordinate with all youth organizations in the barangay for policy formulation and program implementation; and • coordinate with the appropriate agency for the implementation of youth development projects and programs at the national level Hypothesis It is hypothesized that the Sangguniang Kabataan be strengthen to promote development among the youth than to abolish it. Scope and Delimitation of the Study This study concentrates on the Sangguniang Kabataan at the barangay level.Although it would be interesting to view the operation of the SK at municipal, provincial and national level, the point of view at barangay level would suffice to weigh the development made by Sangguniang Kabataan.
Besides, the Sangguniang Kabataan at the barangay level is more accessible therefore it would be easier to relate to it. The study focuses entirely on Brgy. Bantad, Gumaca, Quezon for Fiscal year 2007 – 2013.
