Ni NOEL ABUEL
Pumasa na sa ikalawang pagbasa sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso ang panukalang magbibigay ng honoraria at bibigyan ng certificates of civil service eligibility ang mga Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawad.
Ayon kay House Ways and Means Chair Joey Sarte Salceda, pangunahing may-akda ng House Bill No. 10698, kumpiyansa itong magiging batas ang panukala dahil sa naipasa na ng Senado ang sariling bersyon nito na Senate Bill No. 2124.
“With the Senate version already approved, and the House expected to approve this on final reading next week, we will likely see enactment. There is strong minority and majority support for the measure, so I expect very smooth sailing for this proposal,” sabi ni Salceda.
Sa HB 10698, aamiyendahan nito ang HB No. 1030 at HB No. 1667.
“If we want to professionalize the SK, we also have to ensure that its efforts are compensated. The SK were very crucial to the fight against COVID-19, as they were among the barangay frontliners that could be mobilized for ayuda distribution and module distribution,” ani Salceda.
“I believe that the SK is still underutilized. We are giving them more benefits, but in return, we are also giving them more meaningful work,” dagdag nito.
“52 percent of Filipinos are below 24 years of age. The SK allows individuals up to 24 years of age to run for the SK. That means the majority of Filipinos are SK constituents. We should not neglect this crucial level of government,” pagtatapos ni Salceda.
Umaasa ang mambabatas na maipapasa sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ang panukala sa susunod na linggo bago ang bicameral conference meetings kahit session break.
“Hopefully, we can do bicam during the session break and ratify during the final six session days before the term expires after elections. Better yet, we can do bicam next week and even ratify by Wednesday next week, if the Senate and House leaders are willing,” paliwanag pa ni Salceda.
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