PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is optimistic that the youth will have a more pro-active role in governance with the proposal to have one youth representative in the Barangay council instead of the customary eight in the Sanggunian Kabataan.
In a press briefing at the new executive building in Malacañang last Wednesday, the President said the proposal to have a sectoral representative voted by the youth to the Barangay Council will give the sector equal participation in advancing their advocacies.
The Chief Executive said that in a lot of areas, the members of the Sanggunian Kabataan are treated as second class citizens by the Barangay Council. He said that having a youth representative in the Barangay Council will give the sector the same privilege as any other kagawad.
The President disclosed that he had already tasked the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to optimize the youth’s participation in governance.
Earlier President Aquino endorsed the proposal calling for the abolition of the SK council to save government additional expenses. (PIA/PCOO)
