Ejercito wants SK officials granted civil service eligibility

Senator JV Ejercito has moved for the granting of civil service eligibility to the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in good standing, whether elected or appointed, during their incumbency, not after the completion of their term of office.

Ejercito has filed Senate Bill No. 2185, amending Section 16 of RA 10742 otherwise known as the "Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015."

The senator introduced a provision stating that "SK officials in good standing, whether elected or appointed, shall, during their incumbency be entitled to appropriate civil service eligibility, pursuant to rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission (CSC)."

Currently, Ejercito noted, only the SK chairman enjoys the same benefits given to barangay officials insofar as civil service eligibility is concerned.

The SK Kagawads, which comprise the seven-man SK Council alongside the SC chairman, are given certain benefits to compensate their efforts as young leaders of the community.

"The SK Kagawads are not included in the list of elective barangay officials to be provided or granted first level eligibility under the Civil Service rules," he said.

"The proposed bill seeks to grant the same, if not, a more fitting privilege to SK Kagawads recognizing them also as barangay elected officials," Ejercito added.

In a resolution issued by the CSC on June 14, 2012, the barangay official eligibility (BOE) shall be granted to elective barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials strictly on completion of their term of office.

The BOE is a privilege granted to barangay officials as well as SK chairpersons who have rendered at least one term of office in one barangay and it shall be considered appropriate for appointment to first level positions in the career service.

"The grant of civil service eligibility represents their hard work and commitment in serving their fellow youth in the community," Ejercito said.

The senator noted that the passage of the SK Reform Law almost three years ago was aimed at fostering and renewing the sense of nationalism among the youth as future leaders who will soon become movers and enablers of the country's society.