MANILA — With corruption issues hounding the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said Monday that she will lead a pre-poll seminar for youths aspiring to run in the May SK polls.
Belmonte said the upcoming SK polls will be an opportune time for the city government to make an effort to cleanse the ranks of SK officials and insulate them from the culture of corruption.
“I think this pre-election seminar is important so that the young people running for SK posts understand what the value of their work is all about. I believe that this early we should keep them away from the path of dirty politics,” she said in a statement.
Belmonte has partnered with the San Sebastian College in the orientation seminar for aspiring SK candidates, details of which are still being finalized as of this moment.
Belmonte said the seminar would educate SK aspirants about platform building, good governance, and leadership.
“Because the perception of running for elective posts, which we’re trying to change with our advocacy for good governance, is that it has something to do with power and wealth generation. I think we have to change that mindset,” she said.
Bemonte said that she wants the youth to understand that true government service is “all about servant leadership rather than power and wealth generation.”
Since its creation in 1991 by the Local Government Code, SK has been met with criticisms, questioning its wisdom and practicability.
There have been numerous calls in Congress to abolish the youth council, one of which is House Bill 1122 filed by Caloocan City (2nd District) Rep. Edgar Erice.
Erice claimed that youth council gives barangay leaders a chance to corrupt the youth instead of training them to be good leaders.
In 2010, Jane Cajes, former SK National Federation (SKNF) president, faced corruption charges filed by two youth groups that complained of lack of transparency in SK finances.
Cajes was also accused of failing to liquidate over PHP93 million in SKNF funds, and “lavish display of wealth” that allegedly included expenses for branded clothes and cosmetic surgery. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/PNA)