Tuesday, September 7. 2010
SK Reform or SK Abolition?
The Sangguniang Kabataan was created under Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code (LGC) in 1991. The creation of the SK serves as training ground of our would-be leaders of the nation who will someday lift up and bring decency to the corrupt government system of the Philippines.
Dismayingly, the hope that stands still within us develops a realization that our ideology of good governance rooted deeply in the creation of SK as partners of our local government officials has now become futile. The service and performance of our SK officials has been a failure for so many years. We have never been satisfied with the Liga ng Kabataan or sports fest, construction of waiting shed, ark and pageant (Mr. & Ms. Barangay and Miss Macho gay). These activities will in some ways bring out our potentials, but these are all temporal. The representatives of the local government unit cannot even participate in current issues that concern us the most, be it local or national issues. These young representatives only become puppets of traditional politicians and that SK itself becomes a breeding nest for more corrupt individuals.
The mere fact that SK gets its budget from the coffers of the barangay only shows that barangay officials have the last say to give the SK what is due to them or the 10% share from the total barangay’s era. In many instances like contracts and negotiations that in need of signature, these SK chairmen due to their young age cannot have the signing, therefore waving the authority to the Barangay Chairman to sign on their behalf. This may be one instance of the many instances that becomes a hook of traditional politicians in pursuing their personal agenda and getting SK’s support while branding what favor they have done for the SK.
Now that we have seen a blink of hope with the performance of SK, is it right to say that we no longer need them? Is it right to say that we need to abolish them? Due to the loopholes of the system, we need to consider SK reform to cure the distorted system. The first step is to change the age bracket of those who can vote and be elected from 15-25 years old. We also need to create a youth development council of youth organizations in the barangay to serve as civil society partner in ensuring greater participation and check and balance. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Now, which is which?
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"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
But how if the system that trains these young minds are the ones setting bad examples?
That's a big problem. For you can never expect a bad tree to produce good fruit. "So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit." (Matt 7:17)
Training kids to become good leaders should not be and is not the responsibility of the government. The government is very much wanting in terms of moral ascendancy. The government can only produce corrupt individuals. It's supposed to be the church's role. But what can you expect from churches that utilize funds from gambling corporation like PAGCOR? Again, moral ascendancy is not there.
During younger age, a child must attend worship services, where true moral values are taught. Fear of God is an essential factor so that even when there is no one watching that person will always do what is sound and good to others.
But, we couldn't just leave it as it is (say keep on pointing our fingers to the government or we tend to be apathetic). We, who are concerned individuals must take our part by involving ourselves within. In leading the people, we must always seek Spiritual guidance and establish deeper relationship with our Absolute One!