Cayetano: Train, strengthen SK instead of abolishing it
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano proposed tapping State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to train barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, saying the youth council should be strengthened — not abolished — through better training and capacity-building.
Cayetano made the proposal on September 9, 2026 as the Senate considered amendments to Senate Bill No. 2387, which seeks to fix the term of office of barangay officials and SK members.
He proposed including SUCs and the DAP among the institutions that could train barangay and SK officials, citing DAP’s experience in training local government officials.
The proposal was accepted by bill sponsor Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Cayetano said the training should also be backed by funding in the 2027 national budget so it could begin early in the officials’ term.
“Kung lalagay natin y’ung provision na y’an, which I think is a good idea, siguro gawin na natin na pondohan natin [ang programa] for 2027. Kasi kung 2028 pa natin po-pondohan, aanhin mo pa y’ung training, [kung] patapos na rin y’ung term nila?” he said.
Cayetano said the SK should be strengthened by training rather than abolished over concerns about corruption. He pointed out that many times, youth leaders learn corruption from elder officials.
He also stressed that training should involve more than lectures, pointing out that SUCs could contribute their expertise in governance while TESDA and DAP could provide skills and training for government officials.
“It’s just a small contribution but I think if we put the word state universities or DAP, it could be more than symbolic,” Cayetano said.
Following Cayetano’s proposal, Escudero introduced an amendment inserting the phrase “state colleges and universities” after the reference to the Commission on Elections and before “other appropriate government agencies.”
The Senate approved Senate Bill No. 2387 on second reading.
Filipino Version
Cayetano: Palakasin ang kakayahan ng SK, huwag buwagin
Sa halip na buwagin ang Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) dahil sa mga problema sa pamamahala, iminungkahi ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano na palakasin ito sa pamamagitan ng mas maayos na training at capacity-building para sa mga kabataang opisyal.
Iminungkahi rin ni Cayetano na gamitin ang mga State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) at Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) sa pagsasanay ng mga opisyal ng barangay at SK.
Ginawa ni Cayetano ang panukala nitong September 9, 2026 sa pagtatalakay ng Senado sa mga amendments sa Senate Bill No. 2387, na naglalayong ayusin ang takdang termino ng mga barangay officials at SK members.
Iminungkahi niyang isama ang mga SUC at DAP sa mga institusyong maaaring magsagawa ng training para sa barangay at SK officials. Binanggit niya ang karanasan ng DAP sa pagsasanay ng mga opisyal ng local government.
Tinanggap naman ni bill sponsor Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero ang panukala ni Cayetano.
Iginiit din ni Cayetano na dapat may nakalaang pondo para sa training sa 2027 national budget upang agad itong maipatupad sa simula ng termino ng mga opisyal.
“Kung lalagay natin y’ung provision na y’an, which I think is a good idea, siguro gawin na natin na pondohan natin [ang programa] for 2027. Kasi kung 2028 pa natin po-pondohan, aanhin mo pa y’ung training, [kung] patapos na rin y’ung term nila?” wika niya.
Sinabi rin ni Cayetano na mas dapat sanayin ang mga SK officials kaysa tuluyang buwagin ang konseho dahil sa mga pangamba sa korapsyon.
Ayon sa kanya, madalas ay natututuhan lang ng mga kabataang leader ang maling gawain mula sa mga nakatatandang opisyal.
Binigyang diin din niya na hindi dapat limitado sa lectures ang training. Maaari aniyang makatulong ang SUCs sa kanilang kaalaman sa governance, habang maaaring magbigay ang TESDA at DAP ng skills training para sa mga government officials.
“It’s just a small contribution but I think if we put the word state universities or DAP, it could be more than symbolic,” sabi niya.
Kasunod ng panukala ni Cayetano, nagdagdag si Escudero ng amendment na naglalagay sa panukala ng “state colleges and universities” matapos ang reference sa Commission on Elections at bago ang linya na “other appropriate government agencies.”
Inaprubahan ng Senado sa second reading ang Senate Bill No. 2387.
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