Garganera hits payment requirement to join SK polls

Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera has criticized the Department of the Interior and Local Government after its city officer required the payment for the trainings of the newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan officials before they can participate in the upcoming elections of federation officials.

Garganera said the DILG would be depriving the youth officials of their rights to become leaders of their federation by doing it. He said that while he understood that a mandatory seminar for all elected SK officials is necessary, payment for the seminar should not be made a requirement before they can participate in the federation elections on May 28.

DILG city officer Joy Calvo allegedly issued a memorandum that SK officials can only participate in the federation elections if their barangays are able to pay the P16,000 registration for their trainings.

Garganera said it is not proper because all barangays have budget allocation for the trainings already.

"With regards to the budget allocated for that, naa mana. Ang ako lang kining recent move nga iyang gisulti nako ron," Garganera said.

"Ako siyang gipangutana, ang right to vote or ang pagbayad? Mura ma'g you deny their right to be leaders in their federation," Garganera added.

Calvo, however, said she already corrected the memorandum. She said all can participate regardless of whether or not their barangays have paid. She admitted that her attention was called by the regional director of DILG about it. But Calvo said the barangays are still required to pay.

"Kinahanglan gyud siyang bayaran kay naa man gud tay partners ato, gasto sa CIT-U ila man to'ng gasto pag May 17," Calvo explained.

She said the certificates of participation and appearance will not be released unless payment is done. —