DILG orders special elections for SK vacancies
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a memorandum calling for the holding of special elections to fill up the vacancies in the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).
In a department advisory dated March 8, 2008 and signed by DILG Undersecretary for Local Government Austere A. Panadero it was said that the special election should be assisted by concerned punong barangay and supervised by the DILG Local Government Operations Officer.
Here in Iloilo City a number of barangays have incomplete SK officials. There are even barangays that do not have elected SK chairs.
"The officers to be elected in the said special elections shall only be such number of vacant seats to complete the seven man membership of the SK council who shall serve the unexpired portion of the term," reads the memorandum.
The expenses for the purpose of conducting the special elections shall be taken from the 10 percent SK funds.
The special election covers only barangays where only the SK chairman was elected in the October 29, 2007 synchronized barangay and SK elections or in the special barangay and SK elections and where only the SK Kagawads were elected and after which the number one Kagawad has assumed the position of the SK chairman pursuant to Section 435 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
Such ruling is applicable in case a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, is convicted of a felony, voluntarily resigns, dies is permanently incapacitated is removed from office or has been absent without leave for more than three consecutive months.
The SK member who obtained the next highest number of votes in the October 29, 2007 synchronized barangay and SK election shall assume the office of the chairman and shall serve the unexpired portion of the term and shall discharge the powers and duties and enjoy the rights and privileges appurtenant to the office.