CEBU, Philippines - The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Dumaguete City

and the entire country finally received from the DILG a hard copy of the
implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the use of the 10 percent fund for the
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), which was put on hold until the IRR is issued.

DILG city operations officer Felix Ablir announced the arrival of the IRR copy during
the barangay assembly at Bajumpandan in answer to the queries of the village
officials on the matter. The IRR was signed by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes
and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas.

Roxas said the IRR was finalized after consultations among representatives of the
Comelec, National Youth Commission (NYC), DBM and the DILG National Barangay
Operations Office, Legal and Legislative Liaison Services and regional offices.

IRR's Rule 2 states that the SK elections will be determined by the Comelec between
October 28, 2014 and February 28, 2015. The P10,000 of the SK fund shall be
reserved in the event an SK election is conducted.

On the use of the SK funds, Rule 5 provides that 10 percent of the barangay general
fund be allotted for SK solely for youth development programs or projects until a
new set of SK officials are elected and qualified.

These youth development projects would include capacity building, leadership

training, youth camps, skills training, value formation, citizenship-nation-building
seminar, health services and adolescent reproductive health program, out-of-school
youth programs, socio-cultural and sports development, disaster preparedness and
climate change adaptation, among others.
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It is also mandated that plans and budget reports that detailed the use of SK funds,
for the first semester, be posted in the barangay hall and three conspicuous places,
and be submitted to the DILG, with copies furnished the NYC, not later than July 15,
2014 and the annual report not later than Jan 15, 2015.

Ablir said the SK funds can only be disbursed with the creation of the Youth and
Sports Development Committee (YSDC) in each barangay, to be headed by the
councilman, who is chairperson of the committee on women and family.

The IRR also provides for the creation of a Task Force on Youth Development in
every barangay all over the country to be composed of the chairperson of the YSDC
and eight members to be nominated by youth organizations in the barangay, and
shall be designated through a resolution of the Barangay Council.

The Task Force is tasked to formulate and submit the youth development plan and
budget for the different programs and projects to be integrated into the overall
barangay development plan.

The National Youth Commission is urging barangays to use the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK)
funds responsibly, dutifully and solely for youth development purposes.
According to the NYC, even without the SK, it is still the mandate of the government to
provide avenues for youth participation and development.
It can be recalled that Republic Act 10632 postponed the SK elections on October 28, 2013 and
provided no holdover after the expiration of the term of SKs last November 30, 2013.
It further provided that until the new set of officials have been duly elected, the 10% SK fund
shall be used solely by the barangay for youth development programs.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) recently released the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10632
which sets clear guidelines on the utilization of the SK funds and the creation of a Task Force on
Youth Development at the barangay level.

Section 2 of IRR provides that SK funds shall be allocated exclusively for (1) Youth
Development Programs and Projects such as, but not limited to Capacity-Building (e.g.
Leadership Training/Youth Camp Program, Employability Skills Training Value Formation,
Citizenship/Nation-Building Seminar), Health Services and Adolescent Reproductive Health
Program, Out of School Youth Programs, Socio-Cultural and Sports Development, Disaster
Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation and other similar youth-related development

programs and projects; and (2) Conduct of SK elections provided that 10% but not less than
P10,000 shall be reserved in the event that SK election will be conducted.

The IRR also installs the Chairperson of the Youth and Sports Development Committee in the
barangay and in mandating the Barangay Task Force on Youth Development to create a Barangay
Youth Development Plan.
Violators of RA 10632 will be meted with a complaint to the DILG.
We encourage youth organizations and youth groups at the grassroots to help us monitor the use
of youth funds and to engage their barangays meaningfully through the Task Force. They can
report violators and best practices through the SK empowerment desk, said Undersecretary
Leon Flores III, NYC chairman.
For further queries or clarifications, parties may reach the SK Empowerment Desk at the email
address:skempowermentdesk@nyc.gov.ph or through mobile number: 0908-867-4964 within
office hours.
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