BAGUIO SCHOOLS TOLD TO COMPLY WITH SK REFORM LAW

09 June 2021 – City officials urged various universities and colleges in the city to comply with the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 10742, otherwise known as the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and National Youth Commission (NYC) Joint Memorandum |circular No. 01, series of 2019 or the guidelines for the exemption of the SK officials from taking the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

Under Resolution NO. 274, series of 2021 signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, local legislators stated that Section 16, paragraph 2 of the implementing rules and regulations of RA 10742 provided for the specific privileges of SK officials where the same stipulated that all SK officials in good standing whether appointed shall, during their incumbency be exempted from taking the NSTP, particularly the civil welfare training service subjects. In lieu thereof, concerned SK officials shall submit written reports, preferably with photographs, or other documentations of their active participation in the implementation of programs, projects and activities as previously outlined.

Earlier, CHED and NYC issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, series of 2019 which provided the specific guidelines for the exemption of the SK officials from taking the NSTP program civic welfare training services pursuant to Section 16, paragraph 2 of RA 10742.

The body invited resource persons from the NYC in Northern Luzon, CHED-Car representatives and NSTP coordinators of various universities and colleges operating in the city on the conduct of NSTP activities under the new normal and other related matters concerning the welfare of the students in general.

RA 10742 or the SK Reform Act puts premium on the promotion and protection of the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well being of the youth in recognition of their vital role in nation building, inculcating in them patriotism, nationalism and other desirable values, and encourages their involvement in public and civic affairs.

Some SK officials brought to the attention of the local legislative body their issues and concerns on the way they were treated by the school administrators and the NSTP coordinators as they were allegedly required to enroll the NSTP subjects and were asked to attend the classes despite the existence of the prescribed exemption and the appurtenant requirements that they should submit to cover their compliance to the enrolled subjects.

For their part, NSTP coordinators from the various universities and colleges claimed that there were some SK officials who thought that the application of such exemption is automatic, thus, they simply enrolled the prescribed subjects and opted not to attend the same without properly informing their instructors or the coordinators of their status being duly elected SK officials so that appropriate remedies could have been done to address the aforesaid concern raised.

Subsequently, the NSTP coordinators requested the CHED and NYC to issue follow-up directives to guide them to appropriately address the issues and concerns of enrolled SK officials in the civic welfare training service subjects they are mandated to take. – Dexter A. See