MANILA — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday divulged a contingency plan on the possible insufficient number of candidates who will run in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.
In a press conference, the DILG, in cooperation with the National Youth Commission (NYC), presented the options which they will discuss with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and to the local government units (LGUs) if ever there will be an insufficient number of SK candidates.
DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said more than a million candidates have filed their respective certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Barangay and SK elections, but they still have to determine the number of COC filers for the youth council.
“Mayroon tayong mga (We have) options. In case some areas in the Philippines where there are no SK candidates, we will request the Comelec for a special period (to register) for them (SK); and if Comelec wouldn’t agree, we will request the municipality or the city government that it needs to appoint Local Youth and Development officer (LYDO),” Malaya said.
“(LYDO) sila yung tatayo at magpapatuloy ng programa na sana ginagawa ng SK (LYDO will act and continue the programs that the SK is supposed to implement),” he added.
The Comelec has extended until last Saturday, April 21, the filing of COCs after the number of SK candidates has become “insufficient”.
According to the NYC, more than 350,000 positions for the youth council are up for grabs nationwide but only more than 270,000 candidates have filed their respective COCs when the period of filing expired last Friday (April 20). (Perfecto Raymundo, Jr./PNA)
