Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Martin Diño (File Photo)
MANILA -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño will supervise the incoming Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials who will study in the DILG Academy.
Newly elected SK officials are now required to study in the DILG Academy before taking up their posts.
Diño said this in an interview during the taping of the Pros and Cons talk show of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday that is hosted by Undersecretary Joel Sy Egco.
Diño said the SK officials would be taught "physical control and the right way to lead a barangay."
The Undersecretary, who is in charge of Barangay Affairs, also committed to supervising the barangays' finances and projects, such as the campaign against illegal drugs and creating an economic development program.
Also present was former SK Chairman Alfonso Santos who recognized the SK post as a "university for public service", saying the SK service would determine the kind of government employee a person would be in the future.
Santos said the duty of the youth does not stop at voting, but qualified youth should run for the SK posts to help the government achieve progress.
"(The young ones) are frequently underestimated, but they have more ideas due to their fresh minds," he said.
On the other hand, National Youth Commission (NYC) acting chief Ronald Cardena has vowed to issue policies to support the SKs in partnership with DILG personnel.
Cardena explained President Rodrigo Duterte returned the SK program to engage the youth in reforming their barangays and the country.
The SK elections will create 40,000 youth partners in barangays nationwide.
Diño, meanwhile, vowed to order barangay officials to create a Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) program. (PNA)
