Amid renewed debates over transparency and accountability in youth governance, Cebu City is moving to institutionalize mandatory leadership and governance training for all Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.
Cebu City Councilor Michelle Abella-Celona has proposed the “Cebu City SK Leadership and Governance Development Ordinance,” which seeks to require all elected and appointed SK officials to undergo standardized training on leadership, ethical governance, financial management, and public service.
Under the proposal, SK chairpersons, kagawads, secretaries, treasurers, and other recognized youth officers would be required to complete certified leadership and governance courses within six months from assuming office.
The measure aims to strengthen competence, accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership among youth officials while ensuring proper management of public funds allocated to SK units.
“The youth are not only future leaders but present partners in governance. Leadership in public service requires competence, integrity, and accountability,” the proposed ordinance stated.
The ordinance surfaced amid continuing public scrutiny involving several SK units nationwide, including controversies in Cebu City related to governance, spending, and transparency issues.
Under the proposal, officials must complete at least 24 hours of mandatory training for initial compliance and undergo at least eight hours of continuing education annually during their term.
Training modules would include ethical leadership, public governance, financial management and budgeting, project planning and implementation, youth development strategies, participatory governance, anti-corruption practices, and compliance with laws and regulations.
The ordinance also proposed additional continuing education programs covering disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, digital governance, mental health awareness, environmental sustainability, and innovation in public service delivery.
To enforce compliance, the measure links training completion to eligibility for certain city-supported programs and incentives.
SK officials who fail to comply within the prescribed period may face temporary restrictions from participating in city-funded programs, lose eligibility for incentives and recognitions, and be denied endorsements for major SK projects requiring city support.
However, the ordinance clarified that non-compliance would not result in suspension or removal from office, consistent with national law.
The proposal also seeks to create an SK Governance Development Council composed of representatives from the Cebu City Youth Development Office, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Sangguniang Panlungsod, accredited training institutions, and civil society organizations.
The council would oversee implementation, monitor compliance, evaluate program effectiveness, and recommend policy improvements.
The ordinance cited Republic Act No. 10742, or the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, which introduced reforms aimed at improving accountability and leadership among SK officials.
Despite existing national policies, the proposal noted that gaps remain in the “consistent, structured, and institutionalized delivery” of governance and financial management training at the local level.
It warned that the absence of standardized capacity-building mechanisms has contributed to weaknesses in program implementation, financial management, and youth engagement in some areas.
The measure also stressed that public service training should be treated as “an integral component of public office” rather than an optional activity.
Aside from training, the ordinance seeks to establish performance evaluation systems and governance incentives intended to encourage innovation, accountability, and measurable impact among SK units.
Funding for the program would come from SK funds and Cebu City Government appropriations, subject to existing laws and regulations.
The city government would also be authorized to partner with academic institutions, civil society organizations, foundations, and other groups for the delivery of governance and leadership programs.
Implementing agencies would likewise be required to maintain a centralized database of trained SK officials and submit annual reports to the City Council evaluating the effectiveness of the program.
The proposed ordinance emerged amid recent controversies involving SK governance, including public criticism directed at SK officials in Barangay Labangon over their Thailand trip and alleged misuse of funds.
The officials earlier denied allegations that public funds were used for the travel, describing the accusations as “false, malicious, and completely without factual basis.”
They also said they were prepared to publicly present their accomplishments and activities following criticism questioning the visibility of youth programs in the barangay.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival Sr. earlier said he could not recall signing a travel authority related to the trip but emphasized that public officials are not prohibited from traveling using personal funds in the absence of government spending.
The controversy triggered wider discussions online regarding transparency, accountability, and the management of SK funds, with residents and netizens calling for stronger oversight of youth governance and project implementation. (LLP)
Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
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