The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Youth Commission (NYC) has completed the nationwide mandatory training for some 335,600 new Sangunniang Kabataan leaders today.
DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año says that the Department through the Local Government Academy (LGA) partnered with various local resource institutes (LRIs) all over the country for the conduct of a series of SK Mandatory Training (SKMT) classes for all newly-elected SK officials in 41,940 barangays across the country.
The SK Mandatory training started last May 17 and ends today.
“With this mandatory training, our new SK officials will be properly equipped with the necessary knowledge that will enable them to perform their tasks as youth leaders in their respective barangays,” Año says.
“We are hoping that that through this training, we will be able to mold a new breed of matino, mahusay, at maaasahang SK officials who will become the future leaders of our country,” he adds.
Pursuant to Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015, an elected or appointed SK official cannot assume position unless they undergo a mandatory training.
The DILG chief says that SKMT covers modules on decentralization and local governance, SK history and salient features, how to conduct meetings and craft resolutions, how to do planning and budgeting, and code of conduct and ethical standards of a public official.
The SKMT is part of the efforts of the national government to prepare and capacitate newly-elected officials in performing their roles.
Reports from the field sent to the DILG Central Office has shown that all the training centers have been conducting the trainings as scheduled.
DILG Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya points out that the mandatory training for the remaining SK officials will be completed today.
He says that non-attendance to the training without any valid reason shall be considered as an instance of deliberate failure to attend and shall constitute sufficient ground to disqualify SK officials or subject them to disciplinary actions as per Section 27 of the SK Reform Act.
“We held the mandatory training to ensure that all new youth leaders are well-prepared and well-equipped before they actually assume their challenging roles as SK officials in their respective barangays,” Malaya says.
Malaya said that only those with valid and compelling reasons for failing to attend can be considered for a new training schedule subject to the availability of trainors. “In the meantime, they will not be able to assume office,” he said referring to those absent from the mandatory training.
The DILG and NYC partnered with the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LnB), League of the Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP), and City and Provincial Governments through their Local Youth Development Officers (LYDOs) to assure the efficient conduct of the SKMT.
