Should SK leaders be younger to truly represent the Filipino youth

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 11, 2026

Photo Courtesy: Rappler

Philippines – What does it take to truly represent the Filipino youth? For DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, it may start with bringing back a younger age limit for Sangguniang Kabataan officials.

Remulla has recommended restoring the SK eligibility age to 15 to 19, arguing that youth representatives should remain closely connected to the sector they are elected to serve.

He questioned whether officials in their late 20s can still represent young constituents when many at that age may already be working, married or raising families.

The DILG chief also called for a review of the SK’s fiscal autonomy, raising concerns about whether young officials have enough experience and safeguards to independently manage public funds.

Those concerns come amid recent cases involving SK officials accused of misconduct, including allegations of kickbacks and the use of documents with forged signatures.

But Remulla said reforms should not weaken youth participation in government. Instead, he said the system should ensure that young leaders genuinely represent their sector while receiving the safeguards and support needed to perform their responsibilities.

Beyond youth governance, the DILG is also pushing stronger programs for younger children, including a proposed ready to eat feeding program for children aged five and below.

The department plans to work with local governments to provide prepacked meals that can be heated and served in barangays, with the goal of making feeding programs more consistent and cost efficient.

The broader push includes strengthening early childhood care, nutrition, education, parental involvement and child development monitoring under the government’s early childhood development framework.

From youth councils to child nutrition, the DILG is putting age at the center of two different policy challenges: how young should leaders be to represent the youth, and how early should government step in to give children a stronger start?