President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law a measure that strengthens the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and will provide a monthly honorarium to barangay youth councils.
On May 6, Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11768, amending the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015. A copy of the new law was released to the media on Tuesday, May 17.
Under the new law, all SK members, including the treasurer and secretary, should receive a monthly honorarium at the end of every regular monthly SK meeting, provided that it should not exceed 25% of the SK’s funds and should not exceed the compensation received by the SK chairperson.
Local governments may provide an additional honorarium, social welfare contributions, and hazard pay to the SK chair and the elected and appointed members of the council through their own local ordinances.
SK members should likewise be entitled to civil service eligibility based on their years of service to the barangay, RA No. 11768 states that elected and appointed SK officials shall also be exempted from taking any of the components of the National Service Training Program; excused from attending their regular classes while attending regular or special SK meetings and Sangguniang Barangay sessions, in the case of the SK chair; and provided with Philippine Health Insurance Corp. coverage.
SK officials shall also be entitled to appropriate civil service eligibility, pursuant to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Civil Service Commission.
The new law requires the SK to appoint a secretary and treasurer and set the schedule of regular SK meetings within 60 days from their assumption of office.
The appointed SK treasurer should have an education and career background relating to either business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping.
Upon assumption to office, SK members are tasked to create a three-year rolling plan called the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan.
Members are likewise allowed to hold fund-raising activities, which are in line with the development plan, and the proceeds of which will be tax-exempt and accrue to the general fund of the SK.
