THE KABATAAN Party-list on Monday said that the Sangguniang Kabataan Empowerment bill should have lapsed into law on May 6, 2022 even without the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“We have attempted to ask for any update or explanation from the Presidential Legislative Liaisons Office amid absence of any record in the Official Gazette website that the Bill has lapsed into law. Currently, we have no update yet from Malacañang,” the group said.

The youth organization pointed out that one month has passed since the bill was sent to the Office of the President.

“Parang tinutulugan lang ni Pangulong Duterte ang mahalagang panukalang batas na ito at mukhang hindi niya ito pinirmahan. Matagal na itong inaabangan ng mga SK at youth leaders sa bansa. Galawin na ang baso!” Kabataan Party-list National President Raoul Manuel said.

“Para mapabuti ang serbisyong hatid ng mga SK, tinitiyak ng bill ang training para sa SK officials, maayos na pagpaplano ng mga aktibidad ng SK, at pagpapatatag ng local youth development offices. Sa ilalim ng bill, mabibigyan ng compensation at civil service eligibility ang lahat ng SK officials, pati secretary at treasurer. Dapat na itong kilalanin bilang batas at maayos na ipatupad!” he added.

Outgoing Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago was a principal author and the Technical Working Group chairman of the House of Representatives for House Bill 10698. She was also the designated chair of the House panel for the Bicameral Conference Committee that consolidated House Bill 10698 with its Senate counterpart.