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"

"(7) Be entitled to the appropriate civil service eligibility based on the years of service to the barangay pursuant to the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). "(b) The Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson shall have the same privileges enjoyed by other Sangguniang Kabataan officials under this Act subject to such requirements and limitations provided herein." SEC. 5. Section 19 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 19. Succession and Filling up of Vacancies. - (a) In case a Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, voluntarily resigns, dies, is permanently incapacitated, is removed from office, the Sangguniang Kabataan member who obtained the highest number of votes in the election immediately preceding shall assume the office of the chairperson, for the unexpired portion of his or her term. In case said member refuses to assume the position or fails to qualify, the Sangguniang Kabataan member obtaining the next highest number of votes shall assume the position of the chairperson for the unexpired portion of their term: Provided, That, if the reason for the vacancy does not fall under the conditions stated above, the mayor of the concerned barangay shall appoint an officer-in-charge (OIC) from a list of at least three (3) nominees as submitted by the Sangguniang Kabataan members: Provided, further, That the appointed OIC must meet the qualifications set under Section 10 of this Act. "x x x." SEC. 6. Section 20 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 20. Sangguniang Kabataan Funds. - The Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be governed by the following provisions: "(a) All the income of the barangay derived from whatever source shall accrue to its general fund and shall, at the option of the barangay concerned, be kept as trust fund in the custody of the city or municipal treasurer or be deposited in a bank preferably government-owned, situated in or nearest to its area of jurisdiction. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Ten percent (10%) of the general funds of the barangay shall be set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan. The Sangguniang Kabataan funds in lump-sum which shall be disbursed for youth development and empowerment purposes; "(b) x x x' "(c) All Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be allocated in an annual budget, and if the funds allow, in a supplemental budget in accordance with the adopted Annual Barangay Investment Program. Both the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan and Annual Barangay Investment Program shall give priority to programs, projects and activities that will promote and attain the thrusts of the PYDP such as health, education, environment, global mobility, active citizenship, governance, social equity and inclusion, peace-building and security, human rights, gender equality and economic empowerment, including: "(1) Student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances, and other educational assistance programs that will reduce the incidence of out-of-school youth and drop-outs; "(2) Sports and wellness projects to address physical and mental health, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and other health issues; "(3) Skills training, summer employment, on-the-job training, and livelihood assistance; "(4) Projects promoting the participation of the youth and their initiation in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises; "(5) Programs and activities that will locate the youth at the forefront of climate action, environmental protection and conservation efforts, and enlist their involvement in calamity preparedness, information dissemination and other disaster-related activities; "(6) Capacity-building for grassroots organization and leadership, and values education; and "(7) Programs and activities that address context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities of young people; "(d) x x x; and "(e) The Sangguniang Kabataan may set aside an amount for the mandatory and continuing training of Sangguniang Kabataan to complement the training fund therein provided under Section 29 of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015. The total amount appropriated for training shall not be more than fifteen percent (15%) of the Sangguniang Kabataan fund. The Sangguniang Kabtaan may also consult nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) accredited by the National Youth Commission in the development of mandatory programs and trainings for its officials." SEC. 7. Section 21 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 21. Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan. - "(a) x x x. "x x x. "(d) Duties and Functions of the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan. - The Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan and the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) shall draft the Local Youth Development Plan (LYDP). The Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan and LYDC shall convene quarterly to ensure the implementation of the LYDP and alignment of Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Program and Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program to the LYDP. The Pederasyon shall also cascade information and facilitate knowledge transfer to their respective localities. "(e) The presidents of the Panlalawigang Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan and the presidents of the Panlungsod na Pederasyon ng mga Sangguniang Kabataan of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities shall elect, among themselves, one (1) representative from Luzon, one (1) representative from Visayas, and one (1) representative from Mindanao to serve as members of the Advisory Council created under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 8044 or the "Youth in Nation-Building Act." SEC. 8. Section 22 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 22. Membership in the Sanggunian and Local Special Bodies. - The duly elected president of the Pederasyon ng Sangguniang Kabataan, at all levels, shall serve as ex officio member of the Sangguniang Bayan, Sangguniang Panlungsod and Sangguniang Panlalawigan, respectively, and shall: "(a) be the chairperson of the Committee on Youth and Sports Development in the said Sanggunian, and a regular member of the Committees on Education, Environment, Employment and Livelihood, Health and Anti-Drug Abuse, and Gender and Development; "(b) serve as ex officio member of Local School Board, Local Council for the Protection of Children, Local Development Council, Local Health Board, Local Tourism Council and Local Peace and Order Council; and "(c) convene the LYDC every three (3) months to conduct consultations with youth organizations." SEC. 9. Insert a new Section 23 of Republic Act No. 10742 to read as follows, and renumber the succeeding sections accordingly: "SEC. 23. Membership in the National Youth Commission. -