Election period for SK poll starts today! (CEBU CITY - Public - TopicsExpress

Election period for SK poll starts today! (CEBU CITY - Public Information Office) - The 45-day election period for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) poll has officially started today January 22, 2015 Thursday. Based from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution number 9905, gun ban and the appointments or movements of government personnel among other provisions will be in effect during the election period which will last until March 2. The filing of the Certificate of Candidacy (CoC) is slated on February 7-10, while the Campaign Period is set on February 11-19. A manual voting process will be observed on the Special SK election scheduled on Saturday February 21 this year. Meanwhile, the City of Cebu has a total of 15,683 registered voters for SK from its 80 villages with 7,730 coming from the North District and 7,953 from the South District. In each barangay at least 8 positions will be elected composed of 1 Chairperson and 7 Councilors which is open to all registered SK voters aged 15 to 17. All elected SK officials will elect its Federation Officers. They will have a shorter term as the next SK election is set on October 2016 unless new laws will be passed. Looking back, the SK election was supposedly set last October 28, 2013 together with the Barangay Election, but our lawmakers agreed to hold the next SK polls between October 28, 2013 and February 23, 2015 with President Benigno Aquino III who signed the Republic Act 10632 for postponement of SK election sans holdover to consider the calls mounting for SK reforms. To recall, various youth organizations in Cebu have banded together and called for reforms in the youth sectors representation in the government. Cebuano Youth Leaders also signed a manifesto calling for the immediate passage of SK Reform Law which they passed to Cebuano members of the House of Representatives. They urged lawmakers to expedite the approval of SK Reform Bill. Some of the proposed reforms included the adjustment in the age bracket of SK officials from the current 15-17 years old to 18-24 years old, the anti political dynasty, and the mandatory leadership training for the SK Officials to be efficient and effective in their positions. To date the Congress and Senate has no final verdict yet on the proposed measures. Furthermore, the Comelec offices in Cebu City for the North and South Districts both located at the first floor of WDC Building along Osmena Boulevard is getting ready for the Special SK election. They are open Monday to Friday from 8AM to 5PM to accommodate CoC filing on the scheduled date and other concerns. (By: Greggy Jiggs P. Senados, PIO Staff)