MANILA — The National Youth Commission (NYC) on Thursday urged the youth to go out and beat the April 20 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
NYC officer-in-charge Ronald Gian Cardema made the appeal as only 79,000 have so far filed their COCs for some 350,000 SK positions in more than 42,000 barangays nationwide.
“So, with the help of the media, we really need to inform the Filipino youth to go out, participate and file your COCs,” Cardema, who replaced resigned NYC chairperson Aiza Seguerra, said in a Palace press briefing.
Cardema said the Filipino youth can show their patriotism by actively participating in the SK elections.
He said the 350,000 incoming youth council leaders can be direct partners of President Rodrigo R. Duterte in making changes at the barangay level.
“Go now and file, as young patriotic custodians of your communities and as incoming advocates to eradicate drugs, criminality, corruption and terrorism in your barangay,” he said.
Cardema reminded the aspirant SK leaders about the anti-dynasty provision in the Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.
“SK candidates must not be relatives of incumbent elected national, regional, provincial, city, municipal and barangay officials,” he said.
He also said SK election winners must undergo the SK mandatory training, otherwise “they cannot assume the position.”
He said one SK chairperson and seven kagawad positions are up for grabs in each of the more than 42,000 barangays. (Jelly Musico/PNA)
