The recent remarks of Secretary Jonvic Remulla suggesting the abolition of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) miss the mark on the real issues of local governance.
“From mocking drowning students as “abangers” during typhoons to suggesting SK’s abolition, Secretary Remulla seems deeply disconnected from the realities of today’s youth,” said Khylla Meneses, Akbayan Youth National Chairperson.
“The perceived ‘inefficiency’ of SK is not the disease, it is merely a symptom. The real illness is the grip of political dynasties. Young officials are thrust into a cruel system dominated by entrenched families, forced to navigate a minefield of corruption designed to silence, control, and ultimately swallow them whole,” Meneses exclaimed.
Akbayan Youth pointed out that shifting to appointed youth representatives is a regressive path that would only undermine the democratic reforms already in place.
“Appointed SKs? The SK Reform Act was passed to strengthen youth governance,” Meneses emphasized. “If the DILG believes that SK is failing, it is because the DILG is failing to implement the law’s full potential.”
“Mandato ng DILG na siguruhing epektibong gumagana ang mekanismo ng paggogobyerno mula sa Barangay at SK, hindi hilingin na i-abolish ang representasyon ng kabataan,” she added.
Akbayan Youth noted that if the Secretary’s logic on “failure” were to be applied consistently, it would reflect poorly on the current administration’s overall performance.
“Using the Secretary’s logic, he might as well call for the abolition of Congress first—given how many of its members are ‘not functioning’ either,” Meneses added. “Ang dapat wakasan ay ang mga dinastiyang tunay na nagpapahirap sa kabataan, hindi ang Sangguniang Kabataan,” she declared.
The group maintains that the real solution lies in the strong implementation of the SK Reform Act and the DILG’s commitment to its oversight functions, rather than the removal of youth representation from the local government structure.