The Irrelevance of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or the Youth Council

The Irrelevance of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
Or Youth Council
By Apolinario Villalobos

There was a call to scrap the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council because it has been proven that it is limited to social and sports activities of the youth sector of the community that can be handled by a regular council member. There is a popular allegation that the young officers become exposed to the anomalies committed by the elder officials. Worst, most of these young officials are sons and daughters of the barangay, town, and city officials, themselves. Their salary and other form of remuneration eat up part of the budget that could be used in relevant and useful projects.

The original concept of the Youth Council during the time of Marcos is far different from what is prevailing today. Before, the Youth Councils are busy in “real” civic projects such as cleanliness, beautification and values development. The young officers really go out and organize clean-up brigades in communities where they belong. They also organize green brigades that plant tree saplings in the countryside, aside from clean sewage outlets. Today, one is just surprised with a piece of marker nailed to a basketball post announcing that it is the project of the so-and-so Youth Council officer.

Again, even without the Youth Council, the local government can still function as the so-called youth-oriented projects can be assigned to any of the regular council members. Despite this fact, many are wondering why the idea of scrapping such council was not given much attention, especially, as its eradication can reduce the budgetary constraint of the barangay significantly. Is there a BIG reason?

May Kaunting Tapang at Kulang sa Anghang ang Talumpati ni Pnoy sa Pagtanggap ng Resignation ni Purisima

May Kaunting Tapang at Kulang sa Anghang
Ang Talumpati ni Pnoy sa Pagtanggap
ng Resignation ni Purisima
ni Apolinario Villalobos

Malinaw na nangibabaw ang personal na utang na loob ni Pnoy kay Purisima kaya mabigat sa kanyang kalooban ang pangtanggap ng resignation nito bilang hepe ng PNP. Sa pag-amin na ito, inihantad ni Pnoy ang kahinaan niya bilang isang lider. Dapat isinaalang-alang niya ang mga responsibilidad niya bilang pangulo bilang una sa lahat ng mga bagay lalo na sa mga personal at utang na loob. Hindi magandang dahilan na kaibigan niya si Purisima kaya ayaw sana niyang bitiwan, dahil pagpapakita ito ng kawalan ng propesyonalismo, lalo pa at siya ang tinuturing na “ama ng bayan”, kaya inaasahang walang kinikilingan.

Binitin na naman niya ang taong bayan dahil hindi niya binanggit kung sino ang papalit kay Purisima. Matagal na niyang alam ang saloobin ng taong bayan laban kay Purisima kaya dapat noon pa man ay nag-iisip na siya o may listahan na siya ng mga pangalan ng taong papalit kung umabot sa puntong tatanggalin na niya ito sa puwesto….na hindi nangyari. Kritikal ang pagkakaroon ng talagang opisyal na papalit kay Purisima, hindi lang bilang pansamantala dahil ang puwesto ay may kaakibat na mabibigat na responsibilidad. Sa pagpapatupad ng mga responsibilidad, malaking bagay at makakapagbigay ng inspirasyon ang permanenteng pagkatalaga sa taong uupo sa puwesto.

Sana noon pa man ay binitiwan na lang ni Pnoy si Purisima bilang opisyal na hepe ng PNP, at ginawa niya itong security consultant kung talagang malaki ang tiwala niya dito bilang kaibigan. Kung nagawa niya yon, sana ngayon ay hindi siya sisinghap-singhap sa lampas ulong pagbatikos ng taong bayan.