The Senate approved on final reading a bill that would grant monthly pay or honoraria to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) members to help “revitalize youth participation in governance.”

On Thursday, May 27, a total of 23 senators voted in favor of Senate Bill (SB) No. 2124, which would amend portions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of  2015. 

If passed into law, SB 2124 would grant a monthly honoraria to all SK members, including treasurers and secretaries. This is on top of other compensation that SK officials are entitled to under RA 10742. 

The amount should not exceed the monthly compensation received by the SK chairperson and should only account for 25% of the total SK funds.

The Department of Budget and Management would be required to craft the necessary guidelines to disburse the monthly pay of SK officials.

“We put a cap of 25% for the utilization of the SK funds for personnel services. We did this to ensure that the bulk of the budget allocated to the SKs will go to programs and projects that will benefit the youth,” said Senator Sonny Angara, who sponsored the bill as chair of the Senate committee on youth.

SB 2124 would also allow local government units (LGUs) to give additional honoraria to SK officials. LGUs would also be authorized to give social welfare contributions and hazard pay to SK chairpersons.

The bill likewise grants the following perks to SK members:

• Student stipend
• Allowances for food, book, and transportation
• Sports and wellness projects
• Skills training
• Summer employment
• Cash-for-work programs
• On-the-job training
• Livelihood asisstance
• Projects promoting youth participation in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterpises
• Programs that address “context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities” of the youth
• Capacity building for grassroots organization and leadership. 

SB 2124 also provides for an additional qualification for SK treasurers. They must have an educational or career background in business administration, accountancy, finance, economics or bookkeeping. SK treasurers must also be a bonded officer.

“In the past there were calls for the abolition of the SK due to questions about its relevance and the supposed politicization of its youth members. I still believe that the youth should play a bigger role in nation building and a reformed SK law will help in achieving this,” said Angara. 

SB 2124 is still far from being a law, however. Versions of the bill filed in the House of Representatives are still pending in the committee level. – Rappler.com