A CASE STUDY ON PARTICIPATIVE GOVERNANCE OF THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN
Kristine A. Oraiz
Bachelor of Public Administration
Magsaysay College
Introduction
Our country recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building
and promotes, protects their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and
social well-being, instill in them patriotism, nationalism and other
desirable values, and encourages their involvement in public service. They
are the next generation of our nation future leaders. In line with this, formed the
Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK) to tap and harness the energy, enthusiasm,
and idealism of young people. They have the right to be voted into a
governing body called the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The SK is a venue
for young people to reach out and engage their fellow youth in effecting
positive change in society. It provides opportunities for youth participation
in formal politics; however, it has been criticized for several issues
including lack of political participation and inefficiency which anchored
them with the abolition issues.
Background
The Constitution expresses that the youth have a very vital part to
brighten our nation. They have the right, the skills and the numbers to
“make a difference” in government and society leading to the creation of
the Sangguniang Kabataan or what all of us know as SK which is embodied
under in the Republic Act No. 7160 also known as the Local Government
Code of 1991 in Chapter 8, Section 423, Paragraph (a) of the LGC that
provides young people an opportunity to directly participate in local
governance.
Over decades ago, policymakers are divided in determining whether
or not the Sangguniang Kabataan has served its purpose. It has been 3
decades now since its implementation and was reform under Republic Act
10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, revitalizing the
youth participation in governance. It gave a chance for the SK and
authority to address various issues that have been raised about the
organization.
Through the years, the youth has been an active participants in the
barangay holding important and worthwhile activities that aims to develop
the potentials of the youth and their capabilities. Officers of the
Sangguniang Kabataan are icons for their youth constituents in terms of
good governance, leadership and moral values. They are known as role
models in their community that leads to the engagement of the other people
to contribute to the development of the barangay and the municipality as
well. However, in this recent time, the trust and confidence given to this
organization seemed to decline because of various issues thrown to them.
Issues of inefficiency, ineffectiveness, abuse, and worse, corruption are the
queries on the mind of the public.
The SK, though has problems, need not be abolished. It still plays a
vital role on youth development and is still considered by the youth as
their voice in the government. The study conducted by Cornelio (2008)
compliments that despite the many challenges, the SK embody and
represents youth participation in nation building. Adults also benefit by
learning from youth, and society benefits from the new ideas and the fresh
perspective of young people, as well as from their future participation.
Evaluation of the Case
Sangguniang Kabataan cannot be treated as a uniform group where
politics is concerned. Not surprisingly, to assess their interest in politics
they actually vary in their levels of interest in politics and display of
interest in a variety of ways. The interaction between the personal and
financial circumstances of an individual, their beliefs and values, and a
range of external factors will determine how a young person conceptualizes
politics, which in turn influences the level of connection they make with
politics.
According to few studies, confirmed and contributed results about the
factors that disengage political interest. First, Sangguniang Kabataan
conceptualize politics in a limited and narrow way, they perceive the
subject as boring and irrelevant to their lives at present. Indeed, it was
often said that the Sangguniang Kabataan are preoccupied with other
interests and activities that dominate their lives and leave little time to
devote to politics. Second, their lack of knowledge and understanding
about politics, and the difficulties they perceive in trying to grasp such a
‘complex’ and ‘dull’ subject, leave them with insufficient access to political
matters. Third, their lack of trust in politicians to tell the truth, to keep
their promises and be accountable had also turned young people away
from politics. Finally, the lack of opportunities for young people to engage
in the political process until the age of 18 and the failure of politicians to
be responsive to the needs of young people, had also contributed to low
levels of political interest.
The challenge is to ensure that young people are aware of the
relevance of politics within their lives. They also need to be made aware
that politicians’ also share a number of their interests and concerns.
However, in order to engage their attention politics needs to be delivered
in an accessible and enjoyable way that enables them to set aside their
boredom with party political fights, and to consider and appreciate the
issues being discussed. In addition, politicians clearly need to give more
consideration to the concerns of young people; and forums that involve
young people in the structures and processes of decision making, are
required. A number of initiatives for achieving this, such as youth forums,
children and youth parliaments, and youth service activities are currently
in place and have successfully involved young people for a brief period of
time.
The SK will also want to see evidence that politicians are acting on
their behalf. Indeed, if expectations are raised and then unmet, this will
only serve to increase their lack of interest and distrust.
Alternatives
Alternative ways is to empower young people with giving them some
control over aspects of their lives, as to learn about communities’
responsibility and decision making. The experience of sitting on a school’s
council or youth meetings was felt to encourage young people to take
responsibility for some of the issues which affect them, even if it did not
result in contact with politicians. However, meetings with politicians have the
potential to raise expectations, on the part of young people, which
sometimes cannot be met resulted to distrust and discourage to politicians and lack
of
interest
to
politics.
Therefore,
politicians
must
respond
to
the
recommendations from a youth to any forum or meetings to increase trust
and motivate them to take part and invest interest about politics.
The future of good governance rests on the shoulders of the youth.
It is crucial that young people themselves actively take part in their own
development and the development of their communities.The SK are clearly
concerned about issues which are at the core of the government’s agenda.
In fact, if we’re going to analyze from the research of few studies, it directly
stresses the importance of strengthening the SK, which is the mass base of
young people in each barangay from which the SK is elected.
Proposed Solution or Changes
The Sangguniang Kabataan and the youth must realize that public
service and governance involved the personal commitment to serve, and
that being in government is a difficult and very demanding task. Despite
the hardships, they recognized that serving others could be an enjoyable
experience.
Policy-makers, politicians must pay attention to young people there
are huge are multiple reasons and one of a it is that youth make up a
substantial proportion of the voting populations. It would be wise to
meaningfully engage with young people and acknowledge the importance
of their voices, energy and vision to a healthy democracy. At the same time,
new forms of social and political involvement appear to emerge among
young people; In both respects, developments in youth political
participation may well indicate a more fundamental transformation of
contemporary democracy over the years to come.
The government, the youth and the rest of civil society must unite
and make the solutions a reality. It is better to work together, make further
changes for development. It is true that society sets what we have to follow.
But we are all part of it, the government should highlight with importance
that the Sangguniang Kabataan have the authority and capability to shape
our nation. They have the right, the skills and the numbers to “make a
difference” in government and society.
Recommendation
The government should provide proper direction, vision and
guidance to meet the requirements of leadership not only in the future
governance but to their present needs. And only then, developments in
youth political participation may well indicate a more fundamental
transformation of contemporary democracy over the years to come.
Decision-makers
would
be
wise
to
meaningfully
engage
Sangguniang Kabataan and acknowledge the importance of their voices,
energy and vision to a healthy democracy. At the same time, new forms of
social and political involvement appear to emerge among young people.
The SK officials must be more serious with this endeavor that they
entered. They must embed with all the learning and skills taught to them
by the higher officials so that they would really live up on the purpose on
why they are created.
The parents should fully support their children financially,
physically, morally, spiritually, socially to have good leaders in the
community.
Sangguniang Kabataan is a challenge to Filipino youth to step up
and seize the opportunity to lead and be heard. But it is an even greater
challenge to us adults, to guide and to listen. They are the next generation
of the nation’s leaders, and we, as adults, have a responsibility to ensure
that they are equipped with the knowledge, attitude and skills to take on
this role. The leaders of today should create an enabling environment for
positive youth engagement and empowerment in order to help shape the
leaders of tomorrow.
Conclusion
Majority of the researchers who conducted a study to assess the
performance of the Sangguniang Kabataan officials perceived that instead
of abolition, reformation would correct SK‟s failures and shortcomings.
Young people seem to show considerable reluctance to engage in
conventional democratic politics. A balance needs between empowering
and engaging young people but without pressurizing them to take an
interest in politics. Young people seem keen to ensure that there are
appropriate mechanisms for their involvement, but they may feel
increasingly burdened if there are too many requests for their participation.
It should be recognized that young people are currently taking action
in a range of political activities, even if they do not see them as political. It
seems in the past too much emphasis has focused on the lack of interest of
the young. It is now time to focus attention on the role of politicians,
educators and elders in engaging and representing the interests of the
young.
References
Abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan Sought (2008). Retrieved June 20,
2013, from http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0413_
pimentel1.asp
Balanon, F., Ong M., Torre, B., Puzon, M., Granada, J. and Trinidad, A.
(2007).The Impact of Youth Participation in the Local Government
Process.
Abolition of Sangguniang Kabataan Sought (2008). Retrieved June
20,
2013, from http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2008/0413_
pimentel1.asp
Cornelio, M. (2010). The Right Road to Meaningful Youth Participation.
Retrieved June 18, 2013, from
akbayanyouth.wordpress.com/.../the-right-road-to meaningfulyouth-par...
Republic Act No. 7160: The 1991 Local Government Code of the
Philippines. Retrieved November 23, 2005 from Chan Robles Virtual
Law Library: http://www.chanrobles.com/ localgov.htm
Lazaro, G. (2002). “No to SK Phase-out: The Student Councils Alliance of
the Philippines.” Retrieved January 31,2006 from the Statements
SectionofCyberDyaryo.com:http://www.cyberdyaryo.com/stateme
nts/st2002_0529_01.htm
ISSUES ON PARTICIPATIVE GOVERNANACE OF THE SANGGUNIANG
KABATAAN
A Case Study Presented to the Bachelor in Public Administration
Magsaysay College, Misamis Oriental
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Public Administration
(BPA)
Oraiz, Kristine A.
BPA-4A
September 2021