Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano proposed tapping State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to train barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, saying the youth council should be strengthened — not abolished — through better training and capacity-building.
Cayetano made the proposal as the Senate considered amendments to Senate Bill No. 2387, which seeks to fix the term of office of barangay officials and SK members.
He proposed including SUCs and the DAP among the institutions that could train barangay and SK officials, citing DAP’s experience in training local government officials.
The proposal was accepted by bill sponsor Senator Chiz Escudero.
Cayetano said the training should also be backed by funding in the 2027 national budget so it could begin early in the officials’ term.
“Kung lalagay natin ‘yung provision na ‘yan, which I think is a good idea, siguro gawin na natin na pondohan natin [ang programa] for 2027.”
“Kung lalagay natin ‘yung provision na ‘yan, which I think is a good idea, siguro gawin na natin na pondohan natin [ang programa] for 2027. Kasi kung 2028 pa natin po-pondohan, aanhin mo pa ‘yung training, [kung] patapos na rin ‘yung term nila?” the veteran legislator explained.
The seasoned lawmaker said the SK should be strengthened by training rather than abolished over concerns about corruption. The senator pointed out that many times, youth leaders learn corruption from elder officials.
He also stressed that training should involve more than lectures, pointing out that SUCs could contribute their expertise in governance while TESDA and DAP could provide skills and training for government officials.
“It’s just a small contribution but I think if we put the word state universities or DAP, it could be more than symbolic.”
“It’s just a small contribution but I think if we put the word state universities or DAP, it could be more than symbolic,” he said.
Following Cayetano’s proposal, Escudero introduced an amendment inserting the phrase “state colleges and universities” after the reference to the Commission on Elections and before “other appropriate government agencies”.
