KABATAAN Party-list urged President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately sign the Sangguniang Kabataan Empowerment bill.

Kabataan Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago was the principal author of House Bill 10698 that seeks to empower youth councils.

She was the designated chair of the House panel for the Bicameral Conference Committee that consolidated the measure with its Senate counterpart.

“Given the absence of regular elections and despite all challenges they faced amid the pandemic, SK officials went over and beyond their mandated term to bring services to communities and empower the Filipino youth,” it said.

The group said that SK officials are overworked, underequipped and understaffed to run their local councils properly.

Many have resigned due to personal or filial obligations that cannot be ignored especially with the overwhelming economic burden from the pandemic.

“Many youth leaders have left public service without even experiencing needed reforms and compensation. These proposed reforms are needed not only to maintain the operations of the Sanggunian amid the pandemic but also to truly empower SK officials and aspiring leaders to mobilize the youth in their communities for genuine social change,” the party-list said.