The Vice Mayor’s Office (VMO) is empowering the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairpersons from the First District of Davao City by equipping them with proper knowledge through a seminar dubbed Pakighinabi 2025: Empowering Sangguniang Kabataan through Policy-Making at the New Councilor’s Lounge of the Sangguninang Panlungsod on Friday.
“Pakighinabi” is a series of Local Legislative Seminar Sessions that aims to strengthen youth participation through policy-making as well as awakening their socio-economic consciousness, honing their critical thinking process, and equipping them with the technical knowledge in proper policy-making.
“We have this program to teach them the processes, naa man mga rules na in place na so better na ma-lecture at least ma-adopt ug magamit nila. Policy making is the thrust kasi they are SK, they are young public government officials, so hopefully, they’ll learn something from this and later on they can pass it on to the next SK people that will come in,” Vice Mayor J. Melchor Quitain Jr. said in an interview.
Quitain said the seminar can help them in their decision-making whenever they need to come up with decisions during their meetings and discussions in their respective offices.
“I’m sure si SK like in all other barangays there are gray areas that they cannot really agree on so much better na hatagan nato ug training para at least when they do sessions and meetings, they know what to do and they can decide how to do it,” Quitain also said.
It is also the goal of the seminar to help promote a collaborative environment with various sectors by educating them through proper legislation to actively shape policies and contribute to nation-building.
Dave John Renoy, SK chair of Brgy. Catalunan Pequeno said the seminar will equip them to craft ordinances and resolutions in their offices.
“Making ordinances and resolutions are part of our work as SK not only na gamit ni siya sa among pagpadagan sa among opisina but also sa paghimo namo na mahimong sustainable ang among mga programa para sa among barangay labi na sa among kabatan-onan,” Renoy said in an interview.
Renoy also said that the biggest benefit they can get from the program is a clearer and more detailed explanation of how to craft policies that are uniform with the city government of Davao.
“Labi na karon naga praktis na ang city na ma-centralized ang atoang legislative process gikan sa local govenrment hangtod sa barangay level,” he said.
The activity was attended by SK-Federation President Kristine Abdul Mercado, lawyer Eleazar Cagula of the City Legal Office, lawyer Camille Flores of the Department of Interior and Local Government-Davao (DILG-Davao), and the Davao City Youth Development Office representatives.
During the activity, the e-book entitled “Compilation of Basic Law and Principles Affecting the Barangay” was also launched.
The e-book is an initiative of lawyer Jesus Melchor Quitain as a way to help the barangay officials to have a better governance in their respective barangays.
The e-book aims to consolidate the relevant and existing laws, rules, and latest jurisprudence relating to their duties and functions as officers of the basic political u
