DILG: SK officials asked to shun nepotism

INTERIOR and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. has a piece of advice to the newly-elected “Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials: refrain from appointing relatives as their secretaries and treasurers.

“This appointment will mirror the SK officials’ credibility and shall be a precedent to their leadership,” he said.

According to the official, he had issued DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) ‪2023-167‬ that underscored that the new SK secretary and treasurer must not be within the second civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any incumbent elected national, regional, provincial, city, municipal or barangay official in the locality where he seeks to be appointed.

It superseded DILG-issued MC No. ‪2018-131‬ dated August 15, 2018, that initially set the guidelines on the appointment of SK secretaries and treasurers.

Likewise the DILG Secretary said that aside from refraining from appointing relatives, SK officials must choose qualified secretaries and treasurers within 60 days from their assumption of office.

He also said that the amended guidelines to assist SK officials in choosing a qualified secretary and treasurer pursuant to Section 10 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10742 as amended by RA No. 11768.

Abalos said that the appointee must also be a resident of the barangay for not less than one year; able to read and write Filipino, English, or the local dialect; and, must not have been convicted by final judgment of any crime involving moral turpitude.

On the other hand, Abalos said that the SK treasurer must also have an educational background relating to business administration, accountancy, finance, economics, or bookkeeping.