Naga SP grants honorarium to SK kagawads

NAGA CITY --- The city government here, in another unprecedented and innovative move, passed and approved City Ordinance No. 2019-021 which grants honorarium to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawads, SK treasurers, and SK secretaries in the 27 barangays of the city, providing funds for the purpose.

Jointly introduced by Vice Mayor Nelson S. Legacion and SK Federation President and Sangguniang Panglunsod Ex-Oficio Member City Councilor Kyle Francine Tripulca, the ordinance, to be known as “Sangguniang Kabataan Empowerment Ordinance,” was approved by for implementation by City Mayor John Bongat last February 28 after it was unanimously enacted two days earlier, whose copy was released this week.

In its explanatory known, the ordinance noted that the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act (R.A. 10742) only grants honoraria to SK chairmen, leaving no express provision as to the honoraria of SK kagawad, secretaries and SK treasurers.

This, while the Department of the Interior and Local Governments (DILG) in its Opinion No. 19, s. 2010 stated that SK officials are considered elective barangay officials.

Before this ordinance, only the barangay chairmen were accorded honorarium equivalent to what the regular members of the Sangguniang Barangay receive each month, leaving nothing to the SK Kagwads. Section 393 of the Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160) provides that barangay officials may receive “such other emoluments as may be authorized” by law or city ordinance.

“…(C)onsidering the aforesaid absence of specific provision on honoraria for SK Kagawads, SK Secretaries and SK Treasurers, and given that their works and contributions are important and significant in advancing youth empowerment in the city, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Naga and the officialdom of the City Government of Naga deem it wise to propose and enact this ordinance granting honoraria to said SK officials, providing guidelines and allocating funds for the purpose,” the ordinance stressed.

According to Vice Mayor Legacion, SP presiding officer, Sangguniang Kabataan kagawads, SK treasurers, and SK secretaries in all the 27 barangays of the city shall receive P500 for each attendance in the regular session of their respective Sangguniang Kabataan; and P500 for attendance in meetings and/or events authorized and duly-called for by the city mayor.

Legacion said such honorarium is performance-based as its release will be based on actual attendance of the respective SK Kagawad, treasurer, and secretary.

Moreover, the same cash assistance for hospitalization, medical, and/or death expenses provided under Ordinance No. 2005-014, as amended, will also be made available to all SK officials of the city’s 27 barangays.

The ordinance takes effect immediately, the vice mayor said. Other co-authors of the ordinance are City Councilors Elmer Baldemoro, Julian Lavadia, Vidal Castillo, Salvador del Castillo, and Ray-An Cydrick Rentoy.

Mayor Bongat said that as far as he knows, this may be the first measure enacted by a city or local LGU to grant honoraria to all SK kagawads, treasurers, and secretaries.