SK can help anti-drug campaign

FILE: A senator on Friday said the youth can have the opportunity to help the government’s anti-drug campaign if the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections should push through this October. (PNA photo)

MANILA— A senator on Friday said the youth can have the opportunity to help the government’s anti-drug campaign if the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections should push through this October.

“…Let’s give the youth the opportunity to help solve the drug problem and other issues in their community. Let’s encourage them through the SK,” Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said in a press statement.

Aquino, who has expressed his desire not to postpone both SK and barangay (village) elections, earlier suggested to his colleagues in the Senate to look into the possibility of holding a separate SK polls in October this year if barangay elections would be postponed.

He explained that the implementation of the SK Reform Act (Republic Act 10742) is long overdue.

“The last SK election was seven years ago. Since then, we’ve reformed the SK and even included an anti-political dynasty provision. I would personally want to see the SK elections push through to empower our youth leaders,” said Aquino, a former National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman.

NYC chair Aiza Seguerra earlier said that although she understood the reason to postpone the SK elections, youths must be given a chance to have more representation in government.

Barangay and SK elections are supposed to be held this October, but the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms voted last week to have it postponed until May 2018.