Kartilya: Kabataan Partylist seeks to reform, strengthen SK

CARP vs. GARB

Posted by Ronnie Clarion On February - 2009

Land distribution to landless Filipino farmers is a preset of provision under Art. XIII Sec.4 of the 1987 Constitution. Prior to this provision, former Pres. Corazon Aquino mounted the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) which was later enacted through the passage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) or RA 6657 on June 10, 1988. However, the program had been excoriated for its failure to completely distribute lands to the beneficiaries within its target completion timeframe of 10 years. It was later extended for another 10 years yet the struggle for genuine agrarian reform continues.

Ang Kartilya ng Katipunan

Posted by Christian Espinoza On June - 12 - 2010

The Revolution of the Katipunan may well have been thwarted by American imperialism at the turn of the 20th century, but it is noteworthy to declare that our people, who at that time were only beginning to form the concept of nationhood, were more than able to organize a revolutionary force that would liberate the entire islands from their Spanish colonizers.

Noynoy Aquino Inaugural Speech

Posted by Kartilya On June - 30 - 2010

Ang pagtayo ko rito ngayon ay patunay na kayo ang aking tunay na lakas. Hindi ko inakala na darating tayo sa puntong ito, na ako’y manunumpa sa harap ninyo bilang inyong Pangulo. Hindi ko pinangarap maging tagapagtaguyod ng pag-asa at tagapagmana ng mga suliranin ng ating bayan.

Subjugating the Philippine System of Education

Posted by Christian Lloyd Espinoza On Oct - 2009

The transformation and reorientation of the current rotten system of education in the country is not possible without the development of a critical consciousness that reflects and acts upon the existing social (dis)order. Any meaningful change in our basic curriculum must be liberative of the docility that has long infringed our mentality, dissolving what little nationalist ideal there is left in the heart of every Filipino youth.

Kabataan Partylist seeks to reform, strengthen SK

Posted by Kartilya On 11:10 PM

08 July 2010

With the barangay elections set on October 25, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino expressed the need to strengthen the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) as the basic local unit of government of the youth.

The SK was created upon the mandate of Section 13 Article II of the 1987 Constitution recognizing “the vital role of the youth in nation-building...and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.” SK is recognized as a local government unit alongside the barangay.

“The SK plays an important role in upholding the rights and empowerment of the youth in their respective communities. There is an urgent need to strengthen it and enact reforms to improve its functions and capabilities,” said Palatino.

Palatino said it is unfortunate that “widespread corruption and inefficient governance” have resulted in calls to abolish the SK.

“We must not kill the essence of the youth’s entitlement to uphold their interests in our communities. What we need to do is to reform how the SK functions, determine avenues where they can further develop their leadership skills, practice the democratic processes in creating and executing decisions

through consultations,” he said.

Palatino said that he is set to re-file early next week House Bill 6870, or the SK Reform Act, which he filed in the 14th Congress. HB 6870 was formulated after Kabataan Partylist conducted consultations last year with the SK National Executive Board and various SK officials in the country.

Among the key problems pointed out by the SK were that elected officials themselves have minimal awareness of their role in the community, thus making them vulnerable to manipulation by barangay and other local government officials; projects are limited to conducting “paliga” or tournaments; rampant corruption due to lack of transparency; and a loss of direction and authority over its constituency.

The SK Reform Act seeks to address these problems by highlighting reforms such as:

Requiring SK units to deposit their funds in a bank preferably government-owned and granting SK units fiscal autonomy over their allotted budget;

Requiring SK units to release a quarterly financial report to practice transparency and to curb corruption;

Mandating that the Katipunan ng mga Kabataan (KK) function as the highest policy making body of the SK responsible for holding regular consultations with other youth-based organizations in the community;

Empowering and encouraging the SK to engage in promoting basic rights such as quality education for all, secure youth employment, sustainable development, human rights and social justice.

Voter registration campaign

Palatino also reminded youths nationwide to go out and register for the upcoming SK and barangay elections.

The Commission on Elections moved the registration period from June to July 25, 2010.

The youth solon expressed intent to “coordinate and cooperate with the Comelec” in the voters’ education and registration drive for the youth.

“We will be launching a massive SK awareness and registration campaign in communities nationwide. We will also be discussing to them the functions and role of the SK, as well as the SK Reform Bill. It is vital that the youth participate in the SK elections,” he said.###