DILG releases implementing rules on SK funds utilization

The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) in Dumaguete City and the entire country finally received from the DILG a hard copy of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) on the use of the 10 percent fund for the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), which was put on hold until the IRR is issued.

DILG city operations officer Felix Ablir announced the arrival of the IRR copy during the barangay assembly at Bajumpandan in answer to the queries of the village officials on the matter. The IRR was signed by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas.

Roxas said the IRR was finalized after consultations among representatives of the Comelec, National Youth Commission (NYC), DBM and the DILG National Barangay Operations Office, Legal and Legislative Liaison Services and regional offices.

IRR's Rule 2 states that the SK elections will be determined by the Comelec between October 28, 2014 and February 28, 2015. The P10,000 of the SK fund shall be reserved in the event an SK election is conducted.

On the use of the SK funds, Rule 5 provides that 10 percent of the barangay general fund be allotted for SK solely for youth development programs or projects until a new set of SK officials are elected and qualified.

These youth development projects would include capacity building, leadership training, youth camps, skills training, value formation, citizenship-nation-building seminar, health services and adolescent reproductive health program, out-of-school youth programs, socio-cultural and sports development, disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation, among others.

It is also mandated that plans and budget reports that detailed the use of SK funds, for the first semester, be posted in the barangay hall and three conspicuous places, and be submitted to the DILG, with copies furnished the NYC, not later than July 15, 2014 and the annual report not later than Jan 15, 2015.

Ablir said the SK funds can only be disbursed with the creation of the Youth and Sports Development Committee (YSDC) in each barangay, to be headed by the councilman, who is chairperson of the committee on women and family.

The IRR also provides for the creation of a Task Force on Youth Development in every barangay all over the country to be composed of the chairperson of the YSDC and eight members to be nominated by youth organizations in the barangay, and shall be designated through a resolution of the Barangay Council.

The Task Force is tasked to formulate and submit the youth development plan and budget for the different programs and projects to be integrated into the overall barangay development plan. — Juancho R. Gallarde