So there is a move to abolish the Samahang Kabataan. Perhaps it would be just as well. In the past administration, the presence of the SK in Local Government Units had not been noticeable, especially the SK Chairmen. Not that we blame them but they have not attained the objectives as required by law. The creation of the Samahang Kabataan had been provided by Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as Local Government Code of 1991. It provides for an organization of youth aged 15 to 21. They will have an SK Chairman, seven SK kagawads, a secretary and a treasurer. Except for the SK Chairman, who sits as an ex officio member of the council, they do not draw any honoraria or compensation. They are to function as the youth arm of the sanggunian concerned. Their duties and responsibilities had been drawn out for them in the Local Code but it is more honored in omission than commission.

In the first place, people aged 15 to 21 by Philippine standards are children. All of them are secondary school level students. All of them are dependents, no income of their own. In a sense, they have not yet acquired some sense of fiscal responsibility. Without intensive and extensive guidance, they cannot function independently. If and when in school, they cannot attend to SK duties as prescribed by law. If they do they will have to sacrifice classroom hours to attend to SK duties. As children their only concept of LGU projects are social and sports activities. The only youth that could be fully operational as SK are those out of school. Those out of school youth are either pressed to help out earning a living. It would be better perhaps to channel funds for SK operations to their skills training in the TESDA.

Exposing young and impressionable minds to Philippine politics this early is irresponsible. It would be killing their budding sense of idealism. Local version of politics is not yet good. Principles are sacrificed for pragmatism. Pillars of the community had been willing to forget moral scruples temporarily during election time. Ambitious parents would not hesitate to spend so their offspring would be in the driver's seat for the sake of the vicarious thrill of being in office thus weakening the child's moral fiber. If youth is to be groomed for public office, they must first pass indoctrination. And that will be in their secondary school years. They must be mentally and morally strong before they are exposed to temptations. If there must be an SK the members must be from 21 to 28. They should be able to resist the temptations and blandishments of those who want to use them. A curriculum of governance must be created and taught to this proposed SK. In time people can tap them for public service since they are trained for it. If they have to be provided with honoraria equivalent to regular kagawads, we would not object as it would be money well spent.