CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- During the 1st Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Youth Development (RIACYD) MIMAROPA Regular Meeting organized by the National Youth Commission (NYC) yesterday, March 23, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) MIMAROPA officer Jerdy Mercene discussed the implementing guidelines on the grant of honorarium to Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials in MIMAROPA.

According to Republic Act 11768 or Strengthening the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act of 2015 signed by Former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, “The SK members, including the SK Treasurer and Secretary, shall receive a monthly honorarium”. The Department of Budget and Management shall issue the necessary guidelines implementing this provision. Thus, the Local Budget Circular (LBC) No. 148 based on the Implementing Guidelines on the Grant of Honorarium to SK Officials, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials shall each receive a monthly honorarium.

Mercene specified the limitations and requirements to the members and chairpersons of SK, reiterating that the funding source of the honorarium is chargeable against the Sangguniang Kabataan funds.

“The amount of the honorarium will be based on the performances of each member, including the attendances at meetings, deliberations and official activities of the SK. The rate equivalent shall not exceed to SG9 S1 of the salary schedule implemented by the city/municipality where the barangay belongs,” says Mercene.

As per Sec. 3.1.2 of LBC No. 148, SK chairperson shall no longer be entitled to receive any honorarium from the regular SK funds except those funded by higher-level LGUs.

The meeting was attended by RIACYD MIMAROPA member agencies, SK Federation Presidents, Local Youth Development Offices (LYDO), and Youth Organization Registration Program (YORP). (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)