After a long delay, the Philippines will again vote for capable youth as leaders in their respective barangays this coming October 30, as the last Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections occurred in March 2018, two years before the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
The next elections were scheduled for May 2020, but in December 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed a law rescheduling the exercise to December 2022. By October of last year, incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reset the date to its current date.
SK elections have since become a platform for the youth to exercise their passion for public service and leadership, sometimes becoming the springboard for many to venture into more prominent roles in the government.
Moreover, the SK council has a profound significance in Philippine grassroots governance. The youth’s presence in the primary government unit in society–the barangay–provides locals with a voice to shape their destinies and trust someone to advocate their needs, especially those of the younger generations.
Electing competent and committed leaders also empower citizens to strengthen their communities and advocate for a vibrant democracy. Some of their tasks include promulgating resolutions issued by the national government, initiating programs designed to enhance the community, and creating committees, organizations, or bodies to help promulgate their plans, among other tasks.
Before aspiring applicants can become candidates, there are legal qualifications to ensure elective aspirants for the youth’s barangay council. Basic requirements include being a Philippine citizen, a registered voter, and at least 18 years old, but not older than 24, on the election day. Other conditions include being literate and a resident of the barangay where they seek to run for public office at least one year before the election.
Given the age brackets of the elective aspirants, only specific voters can exercise their rights. For instance, only individuals aged 15 to 17 can exclusively vote for the SK elections, while those aged 18 to 30 can vote for the barangay and SK elections. Any voter above 30 can no longer vote in the SK elections.
One of the positions where young voters can elect their leaders is the SK Chairperson, who will serve as the dynamic leader representing the youth’s aspirations and concerns. As leaders, they can bridge the gap between the younger generations and the barangay council by advocating youth-oriented programs, projects, and policies.
There’s also the position of SK Kagawad or member, who will join forces with the SK Chairperson to be the driving force behind community development. Elected representatives often have a say in formulating programs to address their fellow young citizens’ needs.
Landing a position in the local government, even for a youth-centered council, entails significant responsibility, which is why young voters need to be discerning about the candidate’s priorities before casting their votes.
As the election period draws closer each day, remember to exercise the right to vote wisely for the youth council members who can bring change to the community and leave a lasting legacy that will set a benchmark for future aspiring public leaders.
