Maria Martha Ysabel D.

Ilagan CDC 2012-48451

ENG 2 U-1R

Blind Men Leading the BlindA Closer look at the
Abolishment of the Sangguniang Kabataan

Much is to be said about the Philippine political scene, with its colorful characters and
moments of corruption and incompetence. Among the many things our political scene could do
without is the Sangguniang Kabataan.
Established by the power of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code, the Sangguniang
Kabataan aims to give the Filipino youth a voice in their own countrys development, but has
since become an avenue for learning the traditional ways of Philippine politics that leans towards
corruption, incompetence, and dependence towards authority.
An argument against the Sangguniang Kabataan is that it does not fulfill its functions
anymore. RA No. 7160 Chapter VIII Section 426, The sangguniang kabataan shall: (a)
Promulgate resolutions necessary to carry out the objectives of the youth in the barangay in
accordance with the applicable provisions of this Code; (b) Initiate programs designed to
enhance the social, political, economic, cultural, intellectual, moral, spiritual, and physical
development of the members; (c) Hold fund-raising activities, the proceeds of which shall be tax-
exempt and shall accrue to the general fund of the sangguniang kabataan: Provided, however,
That in the appropriation thereof, the specific purpose for which such activity has been held shall
be first satisfied, yet most of the Sangguniang Kabataan chapters around the country cannot
fulfill these objectives due to the risk of misappropriation of funds and lack of guidance. The sad,
undeniable truth is that our local government does not take the Sangguniang Kabataan seriously,
therefore making it more susceptible to cases of corruption and misguidance.
Another problem I see with the Sangguniang Kabataan is, how skwatch.org says it, the
so-called waiting shed syndrome, a case wherein SK Projects lean on more tangible, easy-to-
do projects such as waiting sheds and billboards, that do not directly benefit their constituents
nor have a large, purposive impact on the community they reside in. Any other NGO or local
government unit can construct a waiting shed, but only the Sangguniang Kabataan can give the
youth a direct voice to the local government unit.
Aside from the tendency for the SK to do these sort of projects is its lack of activities. If
you were to ask me what project my local SK unit does, I would tell you that it would be the
summer sports league. Aside from that, I can tell no other activity our SK unit does, probably
because the officers of the Sangguniang Kabataan are school-aged people who are either too
busy with their academics or too far away from their constituents due to studying in a different
place.
Above all, the Sangguniang Kabataan is a breeding ground for corruptionat an early
age, these young people are exposed to the tricks that their elders perform to make it through
another day unscathed, making another generation open to the world of corruption. In this
situation, it becomes a case of blind men leading the blind, an endless cycle of corruption,
another opportunity for another generation to go to waste. If we want to keep the Sangguniang
Kabataan, we should cleanse our governments vile ways first.s
References
(2012, October 23) Republic Act No. 7160| Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines.
Retrieved from http://www.gov.ph/1991/10/10/republic-act-no-7160/