History of Sangguniang Kabataan

The Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) traces its roots from the defunct Kabataang Barangay, the
precursor of the present-day SK which was organized by the enactment of Presidential Decree 684 by
then President Ferdinand E. Marcos in April 15, 1975. PD No. 684 is entitled “Strengthening and
Defining the Role of Barangay Youth in Every Barangay.” As expressed in the laws “where clauses,” the
creation of the Kabataang Barangay is motivated by the following considerations:

1. The Youth throughout the land has cogently displayed their zeal and capability to, as they
did actually, participate in the ventilation of vital issues, both local and national, affecting
their welfare and the future of this country;

2. It has been noted that the present setup of the barangays has proved, to a great extent,
inadequate to assign to the youth of each and every barangay a definite role as well as
afford them a medium to effectively express their views and opinions on issues of
transcendental significance;

3. The barangay youth, if afforded each and every opportunity for expression, would
tremendously contribute toward an expeditious and clear ascertainment of the actual,
genuine, legitimate, and valid expression of the will of the people; and

4. It would only be by giving them a definite role and affording them ample opportunity to
express their views that a complete cross-section of the will of the populace could be
accurately determined thereby providing a more democratic and popular basis for
legislation and/or other governmental operations.

In view of the foregoing, Presidential Decree 684 mandated the creation in every barangay a
youth organization to be known as “Kabataang Barangay” or “KB” for brevity, composed of the
residents therein who are less than eighteen years of age. The youth organization shall be headed by a
Chairman and six (6) youth members who should be at least 15 years of age and less than 18 years of
age, to be chosen by their peers in the barangay concerned. The general supervision over the affairs of
the youth assembly was given to the barangay captain.

Aside from the designation of the KB Chairman as ex officio member of the barangay council, it
is interesting to note that Presidential Decree 684, equally provided that the KB chairman shall head the
Committee on Sports and Recreation, which could explain the unusual love affair of the organization to
summer basketball leagues, an annual event that evolved to a quasi- tradition that persist to this day.

Presidential Decree 684 was subsequently amended by Presidential Decree 935 issued on May
15, 1976 extending the term of the Kabataang Barangay officials. Presidential Decree 1102 dated April
5, 1975 broadened the membership of the Kabataang Barangay by increasing the age limit to 21 years of
age or less. It similarly streamlined the duties and responsibilities of the youth by ensuring their active
but limited participation in local governance.

Presidential Decree 1911 which was issued on September 1, 1977 constituted the “ Pambansang
Katipunan Ng Kabataang Barangay sa Pilipinas.” Presidential Decree 1911 is often referred to as the
“Kabataang Autonomy Decree” or is widely regarded in its short title “Charter of the Pambansang
Katipunan Ng Kabataang Barangay sa Pilipinas,” not only because it rationalized and strengthened the
organizational structure of the Kabataang Barangay, by making it more autonomous compared to its
predecessor, but it also imbued the organization the attributes and powers of a corporation. This is the
first law that gave KB Pambansang Katipunan the authority to raise finds (Section 7); and provided
autonomy on its operations (Section 11), including autonomy on its financial operations.

It is apparent that the framers of the Presidential Decree 1191 eventually realized that in order
that KB should succeed as an institution and as an effective breeding ground for future leaders, it
deserves to be given independence and autonomy in its affairs.

The First SK election took place on December 4, 1992. After the elections, Republic Act 7808
reset the SK election to the first Monday of May 1996 and every three (3) years thereafter. The same
law mandated the Commission on Elections. (COMELEC) to supervise the conduct of the election process
under the set of rules issued by the COMELEC. The COMELEC promulgated its Resolution Nos. 4713 and
4714 on December 4, 2001 to govern the SK elections scheduled on May 6, 2002. On February 5, 2002,
the COMELEC recommended the postponement of the SK elections to November 2002 but holding the
barangay elections in May 2002 as scheduled. On March 19, 2002, the President signed Republic Act
9164 resetting the SK and the Barangay elections to July 15, 2002 and lowered the membership age in
the SK to at least 15 years of age but not more than 18 years of age.

The enactment of Republic Act 8044 otherwise known as the Youth Nation – Building Act
created the National Youth Commission (NYC). By virtue of this act of Congress, the secretariat functions
of SK were transferred to the said youth body, which in effect replaced the PCYA created by Executive
Order 274.

On January 15, 2016, the Sangguniang Kabataan reform Act (Republic Act No. 10742) was signed
into law which made some significant and radical changes to the SK. The significant reforms provided
are the change of the age of the council members from 15 to 17 years old to 18 to 24 years old and the
proscription against individuals from seeking a youth council appointment who are related up to the
second degree of consanguinity (have the same grandparents) from any elected or appointed official in
the same area. It is credited to be the first Philippines law passed by Congress to contain an anti-political
dynasty restriction for elected positions. The reform also created a Local Youth Development Council to
support the SK programs composed of representatives from different youth organizations in the
community including student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and
community-based youth groups.

INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Republic Act 10742 seeks to introduce institutional reforms to solve contentious issues which
and address certain problems that hinders the organization in attaining its objectives and mandate. The
new law therefore provides the much-needed elbow room for the SK to flex its own muscle and
independently run its affairs free from political harassment and influence.
The Sangguniang Kabataan Funds and Fiscal Administration

SECTION 20.Sangguniang Kabataan Funds. - The Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be governed by the
following provisions:

(a) All the income of the barangay derived from whatever source shall accrue to its general
fund and shall, at the option of the barangay concerned, be kept as trust fund in the custody
of the city or municipal treasurer or be deposited in a bank preferably government-owned,
situated in or nearest to its area of jurisdiction. Such funds shall be disbursed in accordance
with the provisions of this Act. Ten percent (10%) of the general fund of the barangay shall
be set aside for the Sangguniang Kabataan. The Sangguniang Barangay shall appropriate the
Sangguniang Kabataan Funds in lump-sum which shall be disbursed solely for youth
development and empowerment purposes;
(b) The Sangguniang Kabataan shall have financial independence in its operations,
disbursements and encashment of their fund, income, and expenditures. As such the
Sanggunian Kabataan funds shall be deposited in the name of the Sangguniang Kabataan of
the concerned barangay in a government –owned bank situated in or nearest to its area of
jurisdiction with the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson and the Sangguniang Kabataan
treasurer as the official signatories;
(c) All Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be allocated in an annual budget, and if the funds
allow, in a supplemental budget in accordance with the adopted Annual Barangay
Investment Program. Both the Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development plan and
Annual barangay Investment Program shall give priority to programs, projects, and activities
that will promote and ensure the equitable access to quality education, environmental
protection, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and resiliency, youth
employment and livelihood, health and anti-drug abuse, gender sensitivity, sports
development, and capability building which emphasizes leadership training; and
(d) The Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panglunsod shall, within sixty (60) days upon receipt
hereof, review the annual budget and supplements budget of the Sangguniang Kabataan on
their compliance in the immediately preceding provision and other existing laws, rules and
regulations. Non- compliance shall render said budgets inoperative either in whole or in
part. Failure on the part of the sanggunian to complete the review within the prescribed
period shall render the said annual budget deemed approved.

All Sangguniang Kabataan funds derived from any source shall be stated in its financial
records which shall be kept by the Sangguniang Kabataan treasurer, copy furnished the
sanggunian barangay, in simplified manner as may be prescribed by the Commission on
Audit (COA). All Sangguniang Kabataan funds shall be subject to all existing accounting and
auditing laws, rules, and regulations.
Guidelines on the Appropriation, Release, Planning and Budgeting process of SK funds (DBM
DILG NYC Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1s. 2019)
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and the National Youth Commission (NYC) issued Joint
Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 s. 2019 ‘Guidelines on the Appropriation, Release,
Planning, and Budgeting process of the SK Funds” dated January 23, 2019. (The full copy of
the Circular is in the appendices.)

This was issued in accordance with Section 20(a) of Republic Act 10742 which mandates
that ten percent (10%) of the general fund of the barangay shall be set aside for the SK. The
sangguniang barangay shall appropriate the SK funds in lump-sum, which shall be disbursed
solely for youth development and empowerment purposes.

As highly touted by the framers and authors of the new law, one of the reforms brought
by the provisions of republic Act 10742 is that the SK, under its auspices, shall have financial
independence in its operations, disbursements, and encashment of their fund, income, and
expenditures.