Press Release
October 30, 2007

KIKO WANTS INTER-AGENCY BOARD CREATED TO INSTITUTE
SK REFORMS

Following the conclusion of yesterday's Barangay and SK Elections, Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today called for the creation of an inter-agency body that will propose amendments to the Sangguniang Kabataan system.

Some sectors are proposing the total abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan because of the problems that cropped up over the years, such as talks of corruption in the SK level and the council's relevance, or supposed lack thereof, in the community.

But Kiko believes that "to scrap SK altogether will only disfavor youth participation in governance more." What is needed, he said, is to "execute the concept of the SK correctly and place safeguards so that we can ensure that it serves its purpose."

Having called on the youth to be vigilant in ensuring clean elections, Kiko yesterday even took with him her daughter KC to the polling precinct to let the teen idol experience firsthand the conduct of the SK and Barangay elections.

"Now that we have finished the SK elections, this is the opportune time to look into the system of the Sangguniang Kabataan and have a multi-sectoral body propose amendments so that we can correct the glitches in the structure through legislation," Kiko, a former youth leader himself, said.

"The SK has been receiving criticisms for being a training ground for traditional politicians because their resources and functions are pegged to the barangay councils. This betrays the very thrust of the youth council, which is to get young people involved in nation-building and make them catalysts of transparency and innovation in government. We need to move fast to save the SK from further regression," Kiko ended.

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