Nightshift:call center agent’s blog

After I voted this morning at 7:37 a.m., (voter number 12 at Precinct Number 1, Number 56 in list) for the Barangay elections, I took pictures of the event and Edward saw me and asked about Baras Balita. I told him that it would be better perhaps if we will release the newspaper on December. I posed him the question, do we still really need the SK?

I could say that I am pretty knowledgeable in the activities in our small town, but I have never ever heard of major contribution of the SK Federation. There are 10 barangays in Baras, Rizal and the only time I see them is when they solicit money for the summer’s sports fest or paliga. That is, even if they have been alloted with a budget from the barangay’s Internal Revenue Allotment share. They do no even make themselves visible as some of them study in Metro Manila.

The SK chairmen elect among themselves their representative to the Sangguniang Bayan. For more than three years of covering the local legislature, the only thing I heard from this SK chairman is, “Pinapangalawahan ko po,” or I second the motion. Well, I would be lucky if ever I heard those words because as far as I can remember, he only attends the session twice only, at the maximum. Either he would be late, or will leave early.

Sen. Nene Pimentel this afternoon told ANC that he has proposed to amend the Local Government Code which he authored. If he will have his way, there would be no Sangguniang Kabataan council anymore. There will only be the SK head who will be elected with the barangay officials. But why can’t we just scrap them all the way?

SK was conceived after Ferdinand Marcos’ Kabataang Barangay. It ideals are noble:

1. Promote total development of the youth in a manner consistent with the guiding philosophy of the New Republic.

2. Instill in the youth social commitment and good citizenship, and to assist them in creating a united youth front and concerted action to help government achieve the country’s development goals.

3. Supplement efforts of government in training and preparing in-school and out-of-school youths for citizenship and community life and for gainful employment opportunities so that they can participate in the fruits of development.

4. Promote and conduct scientific inter-disciplinary and policy-oriented research, studies, training, scholarships, consultancy for the youth and help in the printing and publication of monthly youth endeavors.

5. Encourage and assist the young in promoting sports, social and cultural activities and in the organization of youth groups, associations and societies designed to promote the objectives of the Kabataang Barangay.

Only in our wildest dreams could we achieve any of those ideals.