By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, (PNA) — Expect no elections for Sanguniang Kabataan this coming October 28 after the Bicameral Conference Committee ratified the proposed measure.
It is considered as “enrolled” bill and only needs the signature of President Benigno Aquino III in order to make the bill a law.
In the Bicameral Conference Committee report, all incumbent SK officials together with ex-officio members of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan, Sanguniang Panglungsod and Sanguiniang Pambayan shall not remain in office after the expiration of their term at noon of November 30, 2013.
The next SK election is to be determined by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) between October 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015.
The SK position shall remain vacant until the new set of officials shall have been duly elected and qualified and no appointments shall be made to the vacated positions.
The Senate and the House of Representatives panels have consolidated their versions and came out with one proposed measure.
On the issue of 10 percent share of SK from Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), the mother barangay shall use the SK funds solely for youth development programs until after a new set of SK officials have been duly elected.
The Commission on Election (Comelec) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall promulgate implementing rules and regulations necessary within 30 days after its effectivity to implement the law.
All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly as this Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in the official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general circulation.