Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla has raised the possibility of abolishing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), the youth council in every barangay, citing persistently low attendance and declining participation among its elected officials.

Speaking during a House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the DILG’s 2026 budget, Remulla shared that only about 60% of SK officials attend council meetings a year after their election—a figure that drops to as low as 30% in subsequent years.

He attributed the decline to the current age range of 15 to 25 years old, noting that many youth officials pursue work, college, or family responsibilities, which limits their active participation.

“These absences lead the barangay captain to impose his will on the council,” Remulla said.

“The SK, as currently formed, does not have a mechanism for immediate replacement of non-performing members, leaving the barangay captain to fill the void,” he added.

Remulla also suggested that appointing SK chairs directly and allowing non-performing members to be replaced promptly could be more effective.

He stressed, however, that this is his personal view, adding, “I would rather that the SK be abolished because of the trend that it continuously goes down in participation.”

The remarks come as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently signed a law postponing barangay and SK elections scheduled for next year.

The proposal has reignited debates about the relevance and effectiveness of the SK in fostering youth participation in local governance, with critics arguing that the council often becomes financially and politically beholden to barangay captains.