(Eagle News)–The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Tuesday, Sept. 17, announced Sangguniang Kabataan officials may already use their respective budgets for their projects even with the Commission on Audit guidelines on the same still pending.
In a statement, Interior spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said “we need not wait for the COA guidelines because COA has given the SK the go signal to use their funds in accordance with (Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1)..”
The JMC, Malaya noted, “details the procedures on how they can disburse their respective budgets.”
He said “any COA requirements to be issued outside of the JMC will be applied prospectively.”
He said the National Youth Commission would release a flowchart of the guidelines on the release of SK funds.
Malaya urged all SK chairs to open a bank account in the name of the SK and in a government-owned bank within the area of their jurisdiction.
He said the DILG, through the National Barangay Operations Office, has ordered its regional and field offices to monitor and report the utilization of the SK funds.
“The development agenda for the youth sector cannot be further delayed,” he said.
“SK officials in every locality should now get the ball rolling so that they can already carry out projects that are meant to promote the interests and welfare of the youth,” he added.
