By Jordan G. Habbiling
Kabataan Pag-asa,este,Pina-asa ng Bayan!
BAGUIO CITY — The Baguio City Council has opposed the suspension of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) special elections, arguing that it undermines youth representation and governance in barangays.
During its regular session, the city council passed a resolution expressing strong opposition to Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 11054 which suspended the SK special elections.
COMELEC Resolution No. 11054 reversed an earlier issuance, COMELEC Resolution No. 1109, which established the guidelines for conducting the SK special elections.
These guidelines aimed to address barangays’ concerns about the lack of quorum.
The suspension was set “until further notice,” leaving vacancies unresolved and preventing many barangays from benefiting from youth representation and leadership.
According to the city council resolution, out of 128 barangays in the city, only 51 have a complete SK quorum. The remaining 77 barangays are impacted by the suspension of the elections, further delaying the restoration of full youth participation in youth development.
Of the 77 impacted barangays, 17 have no SK representatives, leaving these areas without any youth leadership. Meanwhile, 60 barangays lack the necessary quorum, preventing them from using their allocated funds for youth-targeted programs and activities.
The city council resolution aligns with the SK Federation of Baguio’s assertion that the suspension of the special elections directly contradicts the purpose of COMELEC Resolution No. 11009, which aimed to address the very issues that remain unresolved due to the suspension.
In his privilege speech during the October 7 city council session, SK Federation President John Rhey Mananeng made an urgent appeal to the COMELEC, DILG, and National Youth Commission to act promptly to address this issue.
Titled “Kabataan Pag-asa, este, Pina-asa ng Bayan,” Mananeng’s speech conveyed his frustration regarding the youth who, rather than feeling empowered and supported, feel misled and disappointed by the system.
He called out the COMELEC and DILG over their lack of action despite repeated resolutions and lobbying efforts. He said these delays have created a sense of helplessness among youth leaders who feel sidelined in their efforts to engage in their communities.
Mananeng quoted his fellow Apugan-Loakan SK Chairperson, who stated, “The youth are Filipinos too. We do not deserve this act of disservice from our own government.”
“This is not merely a suspension of election but a denial of your people’s right to be heard and influence their communities,” Mananeng stated.
He also expressed concerns about inadequate funding for the special elections which poses a significant barrier to their implementation. He added that this further exacerbates the challenges faced by the SK councils, as many have sufficient funds in their accounts but cannot utilize them due to the lack of quorum.
Mananeng ended his speech, saying, “Nawa’y hindi na natin muling paasahin ang mga pag-asa ng bayan, na walang iba kundi ang ating mga kabataan.” –
