THE House of Representatives approved ameasure granting Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) kagawads with honoraria.

With viva voce voting, House Bill 1667 was passed on Second Reading and expected to be approved on final reading since a Senate version was already done.

Under the current law, only SK chairpersons are entitled to honoraria.

Amending the law, the measure shall allow SK Kagawads with honoraria, allowances, and such other emoluments authorized by law.”

Lawmakers underscored the need to professionalize the SK by ensuring that its efforts are compensated.

To date, even the SK played a vital role in the fight against COVID-19, as they were among the barangay frontliners that could be mobilized for ayuda distribution and module distribution.

Likewise approved on second reading is House Bill 10698 which proposes granting SK councilors the “barangay official eligibility” by the Civil Service Commission.

The reform expands the functions of SKs to include skills training, youth employment, environmental protection, values education, and other programs specific to the vulnerabilities affecting young people.

It also mandates that the SK Treasurer must have a background in finance or accounting.

The reform also requires that each LGU appoint a local youth development officer to coordinate SK efforts.

About 52 percent of Filipinos are below 24 years of age. The SK allows individuals up to 24 years of age to run for the SK.

Meanwhile, Gabriela Party-list proposed P15,000 monthly special risk allowance for all health workers.

The Gabriela is mulling to file an amendment to the General Appropriations Act of 2022 to correct the risk-based classification of health workers in relation to the amount of SRA.

The government has allocated P7.9 billion for COVID-19 health workers this year.

The group said the government must do away with its deceptive and discriminatory administrative order on “One COVID-19 Allowance.”

“All health workers have high risk exposure to COVID-19 as they are in the frontlines. Bakit kailangang ibatay pa sa risk exposure ang dapat na tinatanggap ng frontline health workers? One COVID allowance daw pero iba-iba pala ang matatanggap ng health workers. Napaka-divisive at discriminatory nito,” the statement said.