By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Laoag City—In a bid to encourage more Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) involvement and participation in their barangays’, as well as the city’s affairs, Laoag councilor Roger John Fariñas proposed an ordinance that will provide SK kagawads, secretaries and treasurers a monthly PHP1,000 allowance.
In his proposal, Mr. Fariñas cited Section 13 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution which emphasizes and recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation building and likewise promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being.
Mr. Farinas said the SK is one of the government institutions wherein the youth have an active participation spearheading activities and endeavors of promoting the youth development and empowerment.
The city government should therefore recognize the youth’s involvement and participation in the city’s social and development programs and projects.
He however, stressed that the monthly allowance will depend on the city government’s availability of funds
The council referred the measure to the committees on finance, laws and youth after first reading for thorough study.
The council also provided members of the local finance committee, barangay chairpersons, SK chairpersons and other offices concerned a copy of the said measure.
Mr. Fariñas added that he did not include SK chairpersons as they are already receiving monthly honoraria.
Reacting to this, Laoag SK federated president and council ex-officio member Faye Lao welcomed Mr. Fariñas’ move to recognize the effort and active participation of the youth in the development and progress in the community.
Ms. Lao believes that the lack of monetary incentives may be one of the reasons some SK officials are not keen to participate.
The Ilocos Times also discovered that there are barangays in this city that have no SK officials. Some have incomplete number of SK kagawads.
City interior and local government officer Andres Vendiola, meanwhile, said that the proposal is likely similar with the earlier proposed incentives for the third-term barangay officials but since there was no legal basis it was disapproved.
Mr. Vendiola said the Commission on Audit disapprove that measure stressing there was no legal basis for additional incentives to barangay officials other than their regular monthly honoraria.
City budget officer Angeline Baby Castro, for her part, said the local finance committee will look for a legal basis for this proposal with the help of the Dept. of Interior and Local Government.
