Day 108: 2013 SK Election Postponed

In every proposition is an opposition. Many would like a postponement of the Barangay Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election and the same expanse of people affirms the contrast.

Key players and the SK.

Inefficacy. Irrelevance. Corruption.

The gist of postponing the SK Elections. However, what remains the burden of the pro-reform groups and the legislators are: First, the assurance that a year will satisfy all consultations, synthesis and legal promulgations needed for an effective, relevant and productive Sangguniang Kabataan (Perhaps this would not be the name after reformation, but let’s use it for the meantime); And second, how would the higher government reconcile the policy to the newly registered SK voters.

COMELEC and the SK Elections.

Before the postponement is the aggressive stance of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) of SK's abolition, which is funny. It’s not for the COMELEC to say!

It should be crystal to the populace that the commission is tasked “to make sure we have fair, honest, clean and orderly elections. It is beyond their jurisdiction nor competency to say whether an institution should be abolished or reform.)”, Undersecretary Leon Flores III, Chairman of the National Youth Commission. Read full article here.

Besides, Republic Act No. 9340, otherwise known as “AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9164, RESETTING THE BARANGAY AND SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN ELECTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, states that a synchronized Barangay and the SK Elections is to be held every three years in last Monday of October. Let's keep it that way, until further notices.

The SK Election Postponed!

Granted the SK Election is postponed, there are ways the newly registered SK, specifically the prospective SK Officials, can take part on the SK Governance.

Every five years, the barangay conducts Barangay Development Investment Plan (BDIP) where the present SK Chairpersons can invite the intending SK Officials to incorporate their plans and aspirations for the barangay. We also have the Barangay Annual Investment Plan (BAIP), where a more specific one-year goal setting is discussed and laid-out.

The involvement of the potential SK Chairpersons/ Officials will be very healthy for the barangay as we spend that waiting period for the next youth council election.

BUT it should be noted that whether or not there is postponement in the SK Elections, the youth in the barangay must be involved in the planning, in one way or another. Some input collection venues would be during the General Assembly, purok meetings, or a special meeting called by the present SK Officials, to name just a few.

Any more words?

Well, I must bring out that I’m against the generalization of having Sangguniang Kabataan as breeding ground for corruption, and not the fact that some barangay verifies the comment. These are two different things.

Also, there's no need to be bombastic on concepts that one is not comfortable with, such as the postponement, that's why in the latter section instead of being reactive tried to be proactive in rendering ideas of what can be done given the SK Election is postponed.

We, in behalf of the council, will be glad to have a new set of SK Officials this year. However, with the brewing postponement we can just hope that decisions will turn out right, for the better. What the present Sangguniang Kabataan officials best do as of the moment is to spend this year as their last, with maintained “best”, until valid pronouncements from the houses are delivered.

We would like to hear from you! Comment below.

Day 182: iLead 3

Last month marks the last Intentional Leadership (iLead) traning, for this term. It was conducted June 12 through 14 at Villa RealResort, Nagpan, Sarangani Province.

S-P-E-L-L!

The iLead raised to the power of 3 focused on three things: (1) Financial Management for the POs and other organizations, (2) Boy-Girl Relationships, and (3) team building. Moreover, we achieved our three purposes.

Participants from different puroks joined the program. On one hand, some purok leaders who are students were not able to join since it was school days. On the other hand, many took the commitment to really take absence and gain skills and knowledge for their puroks.

UPDATES ABOUT KAL'TON FESTIVAL BELOW!!!

However, weak participation was experienced during the conduct of the said program even the efforts made to reach out and confirm their participation. In this blog post will be some photo mementos.

"We can have greater profit with Y!"

Thinking is a must!

A good dose in the morning.

Good 15-minute output! :)

"The picture showed..." Essay writing about the image in iLead 3 tarp.

Job's early days of trial.

You know him if you had been in iLead 2 and 3.

Progress as a group guys!

Kagawad April Rose with Ton-ton and Ricky.

Finding Pusti-Sho Nemo.

To infinity and beyond!!!

Any more words?

We have started to disseminate information about the Kal'ton Festival activities.

Last Tuesday, we had met with the schools for Drum and Bugle Competition. Earlier than that, last Saturday, we met with the PSK representatives for widespread dissemination.

The soonest possible time, I'll post the program for the Kal'ton Festival in this site.

Almost there...

Day 217: SK Governance v.2.0

Seventeen individuals attended the first session of the SKGovernance training. These young people consider running for a position in the next Sangguniang Kabataan election.

Mrs. Bella, of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) General Santos City, gave lecture about the General Provisions of law for the Sangguniang Kabataan. She provided the history and duties of the SK, as a whole. After her discussion, we proceeded to an activity where they were divided into two groups.

One group will conceptualize an activity they have seen lacking on the SK programs; the other will criticize a program implemented by the SK during this term. Their output is as follows.

Conceptualize.

Since the Sangguniang Kabataan attends SummerKadahan every year, some youth in barangay Fatima felt the need of having a program that will not only tap basketball and volleyball players in the barangay.

The youth who had participated the first session of the SK Governance program made a concept they think can fill this need. They bulleted their ideas as:

"Program Title: Pasundayag sa Fatima

• This program intended only for the KK and SK Officials.
• This aims to develop and enhance multiple aspects of the youth.
• For example socialization meetings, physical and environmental activities, which may include fund raising.
• This program should be done during summer-break. This should be observed so conflicts of schedule will be avoided, if not lessen."

Criticize.

The other group selected to criticize the annually celebrated Linggo Ng Kabataan. It is originally written in mixed Cebuano.

"Not every youth in barangay Fatima participates all of the SK activities. One reason we can think is the non-exhaustive information dissemination of Linggo Ng Kabataan. Even some of those who participated did not really enjoy the activities. Also, not everyone joined the Sumbanan Awards Night because they can’t afford the required formal attire to be worn.

The next time, we suggest that they should give value to the activity in the sense of information dissemination, that is, every youth should know of the activity. In addition, they should ensure that the activities conducted are relevant. These activities should have impact to all of the young people in the barangay. Those who have participated should not be the only ones who enjoy. The attire during the Sumbanan Awards Night should be as general as possible. It means that the dress code should be available to all or that they already have one."

Any more words?

We had just finished our Session 2: The SK Chairman today. Its updates will be as SK Governance v.3.0 post. The participant’s outputs may also be posted there.

I also updated a post!

Day 258: SK Governance v.1.0

Today, we now officially open the invitation for our summer and post-summer program, aside from the SummerKadahan, the “Sangguniang Kabataan Governance”.

This program aims to equip our young people as future Sangguniang Kabataan officers of our barangay. This will be done without the taints of political color, as what some programs in barangays appear to be. Besides, any barangay government should never adhere to such, not just the SK.

How it came to be?

Last January, a meeting with the barangay SK Officials and Staff was conducted. This was made without the presence of other sectoral entities.

“Preposterous creatures! They haven’t welcomed representations in such pivotal moment.”

Hold your horses. This was made possible because the SK has been collecting inputs from the youth of the puroks, youth NGOs and POs in the barangay the whole of 2012, e.g., in the iLead² and monthly meetings.

To continue, on that meeting we have declared interest to an intentional and educational transition from the current set of officers to the next. On this, we corroborated to hold a program that will help the aspiring young individuals in the barangay who want to become an SK officer, at least, of the basics.

But—but—there won’t be a barangay election this 2013?!!

Who says? In the purest sense of reason, there has been no law that has intervened with the 3-year, as one term, prescription in the RA 7160. That means, whether you like it or really like it, there will be an election on October 2013, at the very moment of this post.

Oppositions

This activity is not done to aid any personalities on their campaign on the Local Elections this May. If it were to serve someone, it would be the young people of Barangay Fatima.

Also, many people, that include employees (and officers?) in our barangay and some random people, ask who would we “toss-up” for the office this upcoming 2013 barangay election. Gladly, our recommendation will be as objective as possible. This program will help us determine capable individuals.

The structure

Each one in the SK is instrumental in every project.

As mentioned earlier, this will cover the basic principles and knowledge in advancing the public office, as in the Sangguniang Kabataan.

The current module will include the topics: The Council: General Provisions, The SK Chairman, SK Committees, Resolution, Parliamentary Procedure, and Budget and Approval; in that order.

As agreed, the day after the opening program will be the first day of lectures. Every afternoon on the three-day stretch will include lectures and making outputs or practicums. But it will not stop there since the whole program will last till September. Moreover, in every 3 modules finished is an exam.

Saturdays will be an activity day, unless specified. This day can include outreaches like tutorial sessions or clean-ups.

When the modules were exhausted, preparations for a final exam will commence. This exam is sought to have included areas like English, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and the laws relevant to the SK. 

In addition, there will also be public debates. You chairpersons know its purpose. I don’t have to state it.

It would be enough to say that these activities are recorded. This record will provide bases for our long-sought recommendation, and honor to the most capable ones.

Any more words?

On soonest time possible, I will post the qualifications, requirements and reading materials needed by a participant in the Sangguniang Kabataan Governance program.