House Bill No. 10698: Expanded SK Reforms, and Honoraria and Civil Service Eligibility to SK Kagawads

January 25th, 2022

By Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda (Albay, 2nd District)
Principal Author

KEY FEATURES

Governance reforms

1. Requires SK Councils to comply with guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA);
2. Requires SK Councils to formulate internal rules and procedures;
3. Requires the appointment of SK Treasurers, aged 18 to 30, who have a background in Finance or Accounting, with mandatory skills training on bookkeeping provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and
4. Sets guidelines for appointment of vacant SK Chairpersonship for reasons other than non-assumption into office, failure to qualify, voluntary resignation, death, permanent incapacity, or removal from office.

Expansion of benefits

1. Makes SK Councilors eligible for honoraria, allowances, and other emoluments not less than 50% of benefits of Barangay Kagawads;
2. Entitles SK Kagawads to the appropriate civil service eligibility, subject to rules set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC);

Expanded role in nation-building

1. Role in development: Requires SK Councils to help attain the thrusts of the Philippine Youth Development Plan through relevant programs;
2. Local youth development: Requires the SK Federation of local governments to craft the Local Youth Development Plan with the Local Youth Development Council; and requires the appointment of a Local Youth Development Officer in each LGU;
3. National governance: Mandates the election of one representative each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to represent SK Federation Presidents from provinces and highly urbanized cities to the advisory council mandated under the Youth in Nation Building Act (RA 8044)
4. Capacity development: Allows SK Councils to set a budget for continuing training of SK officials; allows the National Youth Commission to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Education in crafting SK training courses that emphasize the role of youth in national development.

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