3 Ways Local Government Units can maximize the New Sangguniang Kabataan

Like an unusual house party in installments, the SK reform advocates would party after each stage in the legislative process is secured in this seemingly slow-motion anti-climactic saga. The finish line means the enactment of the law. Now, we have come nearer to the finish line.

The other night, the House of Representatives approved in 3rd reading the SK Reform Bill. Facing 2nd reading is the toughest volley fire a bill has to face. If it survives, the third reading is seen as a mere formality and the law would swiftly breeze through a bicameral committee in order to reconcile the different versions of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Now going back to the bill, the basic features of the SK reform bill are the following: (a) the increase of age-bracket from 18-21 (b) the anti-political dynasty provisions (c) the mandatory training and skills training.

I do not wish to elaborate on the merits of the substance of the law and its wisdom. But I would like to draw an imaginative sketch of the opportunities each locality can reap once this bill becomes law of the land. I might be getting ahead of myself since after all it is still a bill. But I hope these points call help us desire and support the SK Reform.

1. The Academe and Civil Society can play a vital role in political formation.

The Academe and Civil Society Organizations (youth-serving) are essential stakeholders in the formation of future political leaders in the locality. Depending on their degree of community engagement, services from the academe and CSOs can be in the form of seminar-workshops, skills training, sharing of expertise/experience and mentorship appropriate for their age. Since the law does provide mandatory training, it would provide a fertile ground for private-public partnerships between the DILG, NYC in one hand and the NGOs and Private Institutions on the other.

Having a training conducted by non-government entities provide a valuable “third-party” perspective in governance. The academe as well can use its knowledge products to further form competent youth leaders.

2. The LGU can innovate through the creation of a youth council.

Setting our sight on Naga, a model of local good governance, we can see how their LGU was able to innovate the SK structure by creating a Youth Council. Through the Naga Youth Code, the first of its kind in the Republic, Naga city was able to mobilize other youth organizations and integrate them in the decision making process of the city.

The youth organizations are organized through sectors namely: In-school youth, out-of-school youth, professional youth, faith-based youth and youth with special needs. The SK Chairperson automatically sits as the chair of the council together with a yearly-elected Youth City Mayor as co-chair (reminiscent of the two consuls of the Roman Republic) who is chosen by the sectoral youth representatives. The Youth Code also mandates a yearly City-wide Youth Congress and election of sectoral representatives.

3. Weakening patrimonial bonds means an opportunity to build local ideology-based political parties

The combination of a deepening first-hand government experience and political education by the academe can sharpen and deepen the political consciousness of these SK leaders. This could help them do social analysis outside their bureaucratic experience and allow them see the differences between politics as a set of action based on principle from politics that is veiled with “ideas” but essentially formed to serve kin or family interests.

This gives them better appreciation of the consequences of their career choices. They could either fall into the same patronage trap our politics has been excellent in perpetuating, or choose alternative routes of public service such as grassroots ideology based movements and enter other progressive organizations.

Considering that a number of local politicians now are products of the SK system before, this is an opportune time to remake the SK to produce better, competent, innovative, systems-thinking leaders dedicated to build a true modern Philippine State.

These points I hope can bring in a new fresh spirit in how we build politics in the local-level. The product of our politics is felt most real and compelling in our own communities. If we could start building an army of progressive young leaders who are dedicated in building a modern city, we look forward to see our locality shining on top of a hill.