Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) — Two bills seeking to strengthen the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) and the protection of children against exploitation through the internet have secured the Senate’s final approval.
Senators on Thursday unanimously approved Senate Bill 2124, which seeks to amend Republic Act 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015.
In a statement, Senator Sonny Angara – principal author and sponsor of the bill – stressed the measure targets to address issues surrounding the youth organization, such as “its relevance and the supposed politicization of its youth members,” which had calls for its abolition.
Angara, who also chairs the Committee on Youth, said one of the key amendments to the law is the grant of monthly honoraria to the SK members, secretaries, and treasurers. Currently, only SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria.
The allowances would be charged against the SK funds, he noted.
“We put a cap of 25% for the utilization of the SK funds for personnel services. We did this to ensure that the bulk of the budget allocated to the SKs will go to programs and projects that will benefit the youth,” Angara added.
Local government units can also provide additional allowances, as well as social welfare contributions and hazard pay to the SK chairperson, the elected and appointed members through their own local ordinances.
Apart from the mentioned amendments, the SK treasurer must also have an educational or career background in business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping and must be a bonded officer. The age range for the position was also expanded to 18 to 30 years old.
SK officials will also be entitled to the appropriate Civil Service Eligibility, provided they have rendered their full terms of office.
Projects and programs identified under the bill are as follows: the provision of student stipends, food, book and transportation allowances; sports and wellness projects; skills training, summer employment, cash-for-work, on-the-job training, and livelihood assistance; projects promoting the participation of the youth and their initiation in agricultural, fishery, and forestry enterprises; programs and activities that address context-specific and intersectional vulnerabilities of young people; and capacity building for grassroots organization and leadership
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children Law on the final reading, Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a separate statement.
The bill seeks to amend the Anti-Child Pornography Act and the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act to punish acts of online sexual exploitation.
Hontiveros, the sponsor of the measure, said the bill gives teeth to law enforcement in catching offenders.
The measure would hold technology and social media giants accountable for the crimes committed using their platforms.
Convicted perpetrators would also be banned from entering the country, she added.
The bill also demands the Philippine government to establish its own online sex offenders registry.
“And most especially, the Anti-OSAEC Law ensures that protocols when pursuing OSAEC cases are sensitive, careful, and empathetic with the rights and welfare of the child,” Hontiveros said.
