Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has proposed abolishing the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), citing concerns that many youth councils are no longer functioning effectively.
Remulla said that in the country’s more than 42,000 barangays, about 50% of SK councils reportedly stop operating after only the first year of their term. According to the DILG chief, this situation raises questions about the effectiveness of the current youth representation system in local governments.
The secretary explained that many elected youth leaders lose focus on their responsibilities for several reasons. These include continuing their education, getting married, or relocating to another area.
Remulla noted that the attrition rate among SK officials is particularly high in the provinces. Because of this, he said the intended representation of young people in local governance often becomes ineffective.
The Sangguniang Kabataan system was created to give young Filipinos a platform to participate in governance and community development at the barangay level. However, the DILG chief said the current situation shows that the system may not be functioning as intended in many areas.
Remulla said that if the SK is not completely abolished, the government should consider developing new strategies to ensure youth empowerment remains meaningful and effective.
He emphasized the need to reassess the current system so that programs designed for youth participation in governance will deliver tangible results rather than remain limited under the existing structure.
