THE SENATE has approved on third and final reading the proposed amendments to Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.

Voting 23-0, senators approved Senate Bill 2124 that aims to empower the SK by addressing the various issues that hound the youth organization.

The bill was authored and sponsored by Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, chairman of the Committee on Youth.

“In the past there were calls for the abolition of the SK due to questions about its relevance and the supposed politicization of its youth members. I still believe that the youth should play a bigger role in nation building and a reformed SK law will help in achieving this,” Angara said.

One of the key amendments to the law is the grant of monthly honoraria to the SK members, secretaries and treasurers.

At present, only the SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria.

These allowances for the SK members will be charged against the SK funds, subject to the guidelines issued by the Department of Budget and Management.

Angara said the local government units can also provide additional honorarium, as well as social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the SK chairperson and the elected and appointed members through their own local ordinances.

The bill also identifies several programs and projects for the SK such as the provision of student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances; sports and wellness projects; skills training, summer employment, cash-for-work, on-the-job training and livelihood assistance.

It also includes projects promoting the participation of the youth in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises; programs and activities that address context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities of young people; and capacity building for grassroots organization and leadership.

The bill also exempts SK officials from taking any of the components of the National Service Training Program.

SK officials will also be entitled to the Civil Service Eligibility, provided that they have rendered their full terms of office.