15/09/2025
We, the Team Bunal Poblacion, strongly opposes the idea of DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan. Doing so will mean silencing the voice of the youth to govern their constituents.
KAYA NG KABATAAN!
Bunal!
KAYA NG KABATAAN! โ๐ผ๐ต๐ญ
Together with the Filipino youth, GoodGovPH strongly opposes any move, idea, or insinuation, to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan. Such a move would be a significant setback to the Filipino youth's struggle for broader participation in governance and more broadly, the democratic life of our society.
While Department of the Interior ans Local Government Secretary Remulla flagged concerns such as SK officialsโ absences and low participation, abolishment is not the solution.What we need are more accessible, valuable, and effective means for development; stronger protection from undue influence; and genuine support for their innovative, responsive, and efficient programs. GoodGovPH has long called for the institutionalization of youth-led accountability tools that will ensure SK officials deliver on their mandates, supported by capacity-building programs that empower them to govern effectively.
The stories of those who have carried the Seal of Good Youth Governance stand as proof: even amid challenges such as limited budgets, bureaucratic red tape, and political pressure from barangay officials, the youth have shown that good governance is possible, and public service can be real, tangible, and felt by the people. At their best, they represent the very model of governance the Philippines has long yearned for.
Today, in celebration of International Day of Democracy, we call on the government to not only listen but to establish a system that allows the Sangguniang Kabataan and youth participation in governance to thriveโone that protects its autonomy, strengthens its capacity, and shields it from the grip of traditional politics.
The progress already achieved must be recognized and built upon, not dismissed or dismantled. We call on government leaders to:
1. Reject any call to abolish the SK and protect its autonomy;
2. Institute reforms to strengthen accountability, including youth-led monitoring and reporting mechanisms; and
3. Empower Local Youth Development Councils and the Katipunan ng Kabataan as institutional accountability mechanisms at the local level.
If we are serious about ending corruption and empowering the youth, we must invest in raising a generation of leaders who are effective, empathetic, and anchored in civic dutyโnot deny them their place at the table.
