No SK special elections, no 2019 budget

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

ILOILO City Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) director Atty. Ferdinand Panes directed all chairpersons of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) with vacant posts to hold special elections within 30 days upon receiving of the circular from the agency.

“Nagpagwa ako sang memorandum and they have to complete their SK officials because we will not be receiving their proposed budget for 2019 kon indi kompleto ang pirma sang SK officials. They will be forced to conduct the special elections because this is mandated by the law and the circular,” Panes said.

On Jan 3, 2018, Panes issued a memorandum telling barangay leaders and SK chairpersons to fill up their vacancies.

The memorandum also stated that the 2018 SK Plans and budgets shall only be subjected to technical review by the DILG office and the Local Youth and Development Office (LYDO) upon proof of compliance with the special elections.

According to Panes, the special elections will be supervised by the respective SK chairpersons, Commission on Elections (Comelec), board of election supervisors headed by DILG, including a non-governmental organization or a civil society organization which will serve as members.

“We hope nga mafill-up na ni tanan, kay we are planning together with SK Federation and LYDO nga mag-conduct sang mandatory training kay requirement before assumption sang SK officials both appointed and elected dapat makaattend sila sang mandatory training,” Panes said.

DILG recently said that more than 300 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) positions in 75 barangays of Iloilo City remain vacant.

Panes cited the lack of benefits, honorarium, work, and school as among the reasons behind the resignation of some elected SK officials.

Five days before the conduct of special elections, Panes said barangay secretaries should post notices on the date, venue, and time of the SK elections.

The barangay secretary is in charge of the registration to determine the qualified voters and candidates.

Voters who are qualified to register are 15 to 30 years old while the candidates must be 18 to 24 years old, according to Comelec rules.