Aquino may certify as urgent bill postponing SK polls

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is keen on certifying as urgent a bill that would postpone the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections scheduled on October 28, 2013.

The President is looking at endorsing the House of Representatives’ version of the bill, which proposes to hold the youth polls until October 16.

The Senate, meanwhile, is seeking to postpone the SK elections by only about a year. It approved on final reading the bill by local government committee chair Ferndinand Marcos Jr on Monday, September 16.

In an interview with reporters on Monday, chief Presidential Legislative Liaison Officer Manuel Mamba said both chambers of Congress have “agreed” to work on the bill once the President certifies it as urgent.

Given Congress’ scheduled break on September 28, Mamba added that there might not be enough time for legislators to move on the proposal.

Once a bill is certified as urgent, Congress does not need to follow the “three-day rule” between the second and third reading, allowing both houses to pass the bill on third and final reading on the same day.

READ: Senate panel to push for one-year SK polls postponement

A Senate panel earlier pushed to postpone the SK elections after they found the SK was “not as effective in advancing the democratic ideals of service-oriented youth-leadership.” The panel also found that members had become “highly politicized” and were engaging in “dishonest and corrupt” practices.

Marcos said various stakeholders supported the postponement of the scheduled elections. Marcos also authored Senate Bill No. 1186. The Department of the Interior and Local Government also agreed to the postponement of elections, after consulting with local government units.

Marcos clarified, however, that he does not support the abolishment of the SK. “But I am in support of its restructuring,” he said during his sponsorship speech.

READ: Bam Aquino: Major overhaul, not abolition, of SK

The elections will not be postponed for more than a year, but Marcos, in a statement, said it would be better if the period of elections would be part of the SK “reform and restructuring legislation.”

The Senate version wants current SK officials to serve on holdover capacity.

At the House, however, the bill seeks to postpone the SK polls for 3 years, but doesn’t want the incumbent officials to serve just as long.

READ: House committee approves bill postponing SK polls to 2016

The House version hews to Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes’ position that SK posts left vacant during the postponement of the polls to test whether barangays can function without the youth councils. – Rappler.com