The SKema of Youth Leaders: An Investigative study on the Regulation of the Sangguniang Kabataan

ABSTRACT

This thesis investigates the supervision of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), a national youth organization of 300,000 officials with P4.8 billion fund at their disposal annually. Through analyses of pertinent documents and series of focus interviews of officials from local SK’s and national agencies such as the SK National Federation (SKNF) , National Youth Commission and Department of Interior and Local Governance, this research explains how the SK and its funds are not properly supervised and evaluated. The researchers discovered that there is no proper delineation of tasks among the SK’s supervising agencies: the NYC, which is supposed to monitor the SKNF, wants to tighten its hold over the SK, the DILG, tasked to oversee the local SK’s, is not aware of its functions, and the SKNF insists on its autonomy both on the national and local levels. This research explains how these unclear job distinctions result to improper monitoring of the SK through their financial and accomplishment reports. The lack of monitoring, in turn, breeds dishonest practices, such as corruption and bribery, among the ranks of these youth leaders. In line with these problems hounding the SK 18 years after it was established, this thesis also discusses various bills aiming to either improve the operation and structure of the SK, or totally abolish it. And while these bills are still not properly consolidated, monitoring of the SK’s performance remains insufficient, evaluation of their programs deficient, and billions of their allotted fund unaccounted.

Balod, H. S. & Goño, C.M. (2010). The SKema of Youth Leaders: An Investigative study on the Regulation of the Sangguniang Kabataan, Unpublished undergraduate thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.