BAGUIO CITY -- Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has urged the newly-elected Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in the city to learn the intricacies of good local governance and not be swayed by the "evils of politics".
“What is the objective of the SK? This is the opportunity that we are giving to our children to learn the basic politics, especially good local governance,” he said in a statement Tuesday, following the election of the SK Federation President in the city on Monday. The federation president will sit as member of the city's legislative body.
Domogan said the SK program is the government’s strategy to teach the youth to become political leaders and to encourage the youth’s participation in good governance.
He said the good intention of the SK is to train young people in politics, preparing future leaders of the country.
Domogan also warned politicians against polluting the minds of the young leaders, deforming their concept of good governance, and ruining their leadership positions.
"Its okay to listen and to follow politicians, provided that they are practicing and teaching good governance," he said. "But if you follow the wrong ones, it’s purely bad.”
Domogan, who had served as Baguio Representative in Congress for three terms, recalled a number of moves to abolish the program due to politicking inside the SK, which he said was actually perpetrated by adult politicians.
The SK reform law took effect in this year's local election and prohibits political dynasty. This revision in the law was intended to prevent adult politicians from manipulating the SK to their benefit.
In the SK reform law, the mandatory training for the elected youth is required before taking their oath to ensure they know their job.
The newly elected SK officials in Baguio had their initial training on May 22-24.
The training covered topics, such as SK history, decentralization and local governance, parliamentary rules applied on meetings, crafting of resolutions, planning of programs, and ethical standards for public officials and employees. (PNA)
