Youth rep: Passage of HB 2849 to disenfranchise over 3M youth voters, deprive youth of genuine representation in LGUs abataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon strongly denounced the rushed passage of House Bill No. 2849 on third and final reading in the House of Representatives, saying that the bill will “not only postpone the upcoming Sangguniang Kabataan elections but also lead to the de facto abolition of youth representation at all levels of government.” Voting 185-12, the Lower House approved HB 2849 this afternoon. Ridon, along with Reps. Catherine Barcelona-Reyes, Jocelyn Bernos, Fernando Hicap, Evelio Leonardia, Antonio Tinio, Luzviminda Ilagan, Arnel Ty, Emerciana De Jesus, Silvestre Bello, Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares were the only ones who voted against the bill. “House Bill No. 2849, which this august body has approved on third and final reading this afternoon, deprives the over 30 million Filipino youth their rightful voice at all levels of government,” Ridon said in his speech explaining his opposition to the bill. The youth representative explained that HB 2849 “creates a vacuum in the law” due to its “no hold-over” provision. Section 2 of HB 2849 states that “all incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan officials shall not remain in office after the expiration of their term at noon on November 30, 2013.” The said provision further states that “all Sangguniang Kabataan officials who are ex officio members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Panlalawigan as the case may be shall not continue to serve as such members in the sanggunian concerned after the expiration of their term as Sangguniang Kabataan officials.” “The bill is as clear as day: there would be virtually no youth representative at all levels of local government in the next three years,” Ridon said. Anti-youth bill The youth solon said that the passage of the said bill puts the youth sector in a “highly disadvantaged position.” “First of all, the postponement of the SK elections is set to disenfranchise over three million youth voters that have braved the long lines in the past months for them to exercise their right to vote. Second, HB 2849 is contrary to the Philippine Constitution,” Ridon said, citing Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which states, “The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.” “While we acknowledge that there are indeed numerous reported cases of graft and corruption hounding the SK, we believe that mere postponement of the SK elections does not address the issue of SK being transformed into a breeding ground for corruption. Unjustly removing youth representation is clearly not the solution. ” ‘Malacanang hand’ The youth representative said that Malacanang’s hand in the rushed passage of the SK postponement bill is “very apparent.” “It is not surprising, as Malacanang can dangle the issue of SK abolition to aspiring SK candidates like a carrot-and-stick. It’s like saying to aspiring SK candidates that if they won’t cooperate and pledge allegiance to the ruling party come 2016 presidential elections, the very SK institution would be dissolved with finality by their allies in both houses of Congress.” The youth solon added that the move can also be intended as a way for the national government to “consolidate power” at the barangay level by providing more funds for corruption. “By effectively removing the SK, barangay councils can gain direct access to funds that are meant for the local youth council,” Ridon said. The Local Government Code provides that ten percent of total annual internal revenue allotment (IRA) of the barangay should automatically go to the SK. This translates to a total of almost P5 billion from the IRA of some 42,000 barangays in the country. “At present, most cases of corruption in the SK involve corrupt barangay officials who press youth leaders to become accomplices in their nefarious activities. Without the SK, barangay officials can directly control the whole IRA, thereby giving these corrupt local leaders more funds for themselves,” Ridon explained. “If we read between the lines, we can say that the Aquino administration might be supporting the SK election postponement to give more funds to local officials, a sure-fire way of consolidating local support ahead of the 2016 presidential elections,” Ridon added. Ridon to Aquino: Veto SK elections postponement bill Also, the youth representative challenged President Benigno Aquino III to veto the SK elections postponement bill. “If Aquino has even an ounce of care left for the youth, he should veto this bill once it reaches his office,” Ridon said. The bicameral conference committee is set to meet tomorrow, 10 a.m., to reconcile differences in the Senate and House versions of the bill. The Senate version does not contain the “no hold-over” provision present in the House version. Ridon is a member of the bicameral conference committee. “In the bicameral conference tomorrow, I will again register the youth’s vehement opposition to the postponement of the SK elections,” Ridon said.####
Posted on: Tue, 24 Sep 2013 06:20:42 +0000
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