Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Abolishing SK

Congress of the Philippines has approved a bill that proposes to postponed the election of officers this year of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). The proposed law is now on the table of President Benigno C. Aquino III ready for his signature.

After the President has signed it into law, it will be effective after publication in the Official Gazette or in the newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

The law will postponed the election of officers of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) this coming October 2013 to October 2014. It provides that the COMELEC may select the date and schedule the SK election between October 2014 and February 2015.

Moreover, the new law provides that the term of office of the incumbent SK officials will end in November 2013. Hence, no SK in year 2014.

There is suggestion coming from the various sectors of Philippines society to just abolish the SK for various justifications. 

Asked to comment on the proposal to abolish the SK, some 18 college students studying in Kalibo are unanimous in their responses to abolish the SK. 

According to them, members of the SK are getting earlier exposures to dirty political activities. Some SK members are led by corrupt leaders which tricks are emulated by the youth at their age of maturity.

They say, “the youth leaders are used as political instrument, trained to buy votes, learned the art and science of graft and corruption at early age brought about when they mature.

They believed SK officers and members are usually the sons and daughters of both traditional and modern politicians in the perpetuation of political dynasty in their respective community”. They believed some SK officials don’t perform but they are elected because of popularity and they just serve themselves”. 

Moreover, “SK has no independence because they are in the hands of greedy barangays, municipals and other officials who tutor them to commit fraud.
Celebrating Statistics Month

The month of October is the 24th National Statistic Month. It is being celebrated in the Philippines with the theme: “Statistics That Matter To Every Filipino”. 

In Aklan, the first activity in the whole month celebration is the conduct of the “Statistical Research and Utilization Forum on Tuesday afternoon, October 1 to be held at the SP Session Hall, Provincial Capitol, Kalibo, Aklan. This forum is sponsored by LGU Aklan “to promote the sharing of accomplishments of the program and project among the different government agencies, academe and stakeholders.

The one half day affair will discuss the “Aklan River System: Physico-chemical Characteristics, Geomorphology, Hydrology, Biodiversity and Socio-Economic and Cultural Profile”. 

The paper will be presented by Prof. Ma. Rema B. Lauron of Aklan State University. Another paper, “Stakeholders’ Participation In Water Resources Protection and Development Program” to be presented by Mr. Conrado B. Marquez of DENR, Region VI.

Atty. Allen S. Quimpo, Executive Director, Aklan River Development Council will welcome the Forum Participants and guests. Aklan Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo – Quimpo will also give her message. Engr. Roger M. Esto of LGU Aklan will acknowledge the guests and participants, and present the overview of the forum. He will also serve as moderator in the Open Forum. /MP