Comelec-Bicol top exec favors SK polls postponement

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By DANNY O. CALLEJA

LEGAZPI CITY – As the Commission on Elections(Comelec) conducts registration for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections next year, the agency’s regional head for Bicol based here on Tuesday said he favors calls for the postponement of the same polls.

The SK registration that commenced nationwide last Sept. 20 and to last until the 29th of this month is being conducted based on Comelec Resolution No. 9899 issued last Sept. 5.

The elections, on the other hand, are set on Feb. 21 next year as scheduled under Resolution No. 9791 which postponed the Oct. 28, 2013 polls pursuant to Republic Act 10632 enacted by Congress days before the scheduled elections.

RA 10632 was signed into law by Pres. Benigno Aquino III on Oct. 3, 2013 to give way to the passage of an SK reform bill.

Comelec Regional Director Romeo Fortes said the Feb. 21, 2015 SK elections should be reset to make it synchronized with the May 2016 national and local elections so that the government saves money.

Besides, he said, reforms in the SK system -- such as the age qualification bracket from the current rule of 15 to 17 years old to the proposed 18-25 -- should be instituted ahead of the next elections.

Fortes said he proposed amendment to the age rule “is very logical” since it would come up with more mature SK, which is entrusted to handle public funds.

Under the present setup that allows only individuals under 18 years old to run the affairs of the SK, “we cannot criminally prosecute them for being legally minors once they commit criminal acts involving public funds,” he said.

Besides, Fortes said, barangays have been experiencing shortage in candidates for SK officials, given the prevailing age limitation being imposed on members. “They usually are experiencing difficulties in completing line-ups of candidates,” he said.

The Comelec offi cial also noted that the government’s K-12 program in the country’s basic educational system should be considered to bolster an SK reform legislation.

Through the K-12 educational reform program, the government extended the schooling years of children in the secondary level from four to six years and made complete kindergarten attendance mandatory among pre-school kids.

Fortes said this educational reform should be made parallel with the political reforms involving the youth taking into account that they would be more educationally prepared in handling government obligations and public responsibilities.

“While the government has been able to do it for the uplift of the educational standards, the same could also be instituted in the SK,” he stressed.

In airing such notion, the Comelec-Bicol chief said he supports the resolution recently submitted to Congress by Commissioner Sixto Brillantes calling for a legislation to postpone the February SK polls to give the Commission time in its preparations for the 2016 presidential polls.

In airing such notion, the Comelec-Bicol chief said he supports the resolution recently submitted to Congress by Commissioner Sixto Brillantes calling for a legislation to postpone the February SK polls to give the Commission time in its preparations for the 2016 presidential polls.

In the ongoing registration, he said, only 40 percent of the target SK membership is expected as new registrants in Bicol as around 60 percent are already in the previous list.

“What we are doing now, aside from enlisting new registrants, is the removal from the list of those who have already reached the disqualifying age or have gone beyond 17 years old,” Fortes said.

Filipinos who are 15 to 17 years old on or before the election day are encouraged to visit their local Comelec office in the city or municipality where they reside to register for the polls.

Applicants for registration are required to present either their certificate of live birth, baptismal certificate, school records or any other document that will establish their identity and qualification.- PNA