AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN, INSTITUTIONALIZING ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO REVITALIZE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND BY PROVIDING HONORARIUM, OTHER BENEFITS, AND PRIVILEGES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10742, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN REFORM ACT OF 2015"

View printer friendly version Daily Tribune, May 19, 2022; 118 OG No. 21, 5999 (May 23, 2022) [ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11768, May 06, 2022 ] AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN, INSTITUTIONALIZING ADDITIONAL REFORMS TO REVITALIZE YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND BY PROVIDING HONORARIUM, OTHER BENEFITS, AND PRIVILEGES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10742, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN REFORM ACT OF 2015" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as the "Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015", is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 8. Powers and Functions of the Sangguniang Kabataam. - The Sangguniang Kabataan shall: (a) In consultation and with the concurrence of the Katipunan ng Kabataan, and within three (3) months from their assumption to office, formulate a three (3)-year rolling plan, which shall be known as the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan, which shall serve as basis in the preparation of the Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program. This plan shall be aligned with the Philippine Youth Development Plan (PYDP) and other Local Youth Development Plan in every level, municipal, city and provincial as is relevant; "x x x; "(e) Hold fund-raising activities which are in line with the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan, 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: Provided, further, That any appropriation thereof shall be in accordance with existing applicable budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations, such as those issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA); "x x x" "(j) Within sixty (60) days from their assumption to office, the Sangguniang Kabataan shall: "(1) Formulate and approve its internal rules and procedures; "(2) Appoint its secretary and treasurer; and "(3) Set the schedule of regular Sanggunaing Kabataan meetings and Katipunan ng Kabataan assemblies; and "(k) Exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance, or delegated by the Sangguninang Barangay or the Commission." SEC. 2. Section 10 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 10. Qualifications. - An elected or appointed official of the Sangguniang Kabataan must be a citizen of the Philippines, a qualified voter of the Katipunan ng Kabataan, a resident of the barangay for not less than one (1) year immediately preceding the day of the elections, at least eighteen (18) years but not more than twenty-four (24) years of age on the day of the elections, able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect, must not be related within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected regional, provincial, city, municipal, or barangay official, in the locality where the appointive or elective official seeks to be elected, and must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude: Provided, That the Sangguniang Kabataan treasurer and secretary must be at least eighteen (18) years but not more than thirty (30) years of age on the day of the appointment: Provided, further, That the Sangguninang Kabataan chairperson shall appoint a treasurer with an educational or career background relating to business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping: Provided, further, That only if no person meets the requirements can the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson consider other suitable nominees: Provided, furthermore, That the appointed Sangguniang Kabataan treasurers shall undergo a mandatory bookkeeping training from, and be duly certified by, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) before assumption to office: Provided, finally, That the appointed Sangguniang Kabataan treasurers shall be prioritized in the allocation of the appropriate TESDA scholarships." SEC. 3. Section 15 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 15. Sangguniang Kabataan Treasurer. - The Sangguniang Kabataan treasurer, who shall be bonded officer, shall: "x x x." SEC. 4. Section 16 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 16. Privileges of Sangguniang Kabataan Officials. - (a) All Sangguniang Kabataan officials in good standing, whether elected or appointed, shall during their incumbency: "(1) x x x; "(2) Be exempt from taking any of the components of the National Service Training Program (NSTP); "(3) Be excused from attending their regular classes, if they are currently enrolled in any school, while attending their regular or special Sangguniang Kabataan meetings, and the Sangguniang Kabataan sessions, in the case of the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson. A certification of attendance shall be issued by the Sangguniang Kabataan secretary attested by the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and duly noted by the Punong Barnagay and shall be submitted to the concerned institution as proof of attendance. In the case of the Sangguniang Kabataan secretary, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson shall issue the certification duly noted by the Punong Barangay. In the case of the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the barangay secretary shall issue the certification of attendance duly noted by the Punong Barangay. Any person who shall falsely certify as to the attendance of any Sangguniang Kabataan official shall be criminally and administratively liable; "(4) Be provided by the National Government with the Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) coverage; "x x x' "(6) The Sangguniang Kabataan members, including the Sangguniang Kabataan treasurer and secretary, shall receive a monthly honorarium, chargeable against the Sangguniang Kabataan funds, in addition to any other compensation provided by this Act and shall be granted at the end of every regular monthly Sangguniang Kabataan meeting: Provided, That the monthly honorarium shall not exceed the monthly compensation received by their Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson: Provided, further, That not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be allocated for personnel services. The DBM shall issue the necessary guidelines implementing this provision. "The local government units may provide additional honorarium as well as social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and the elected and appointed members through their own local ordinances: Provided, That the honorarium as stated in this section shall be subject to the post-audit jurisdiction of the COA; and