Full TEXT:

ORDINANCE NO. 2026-019

AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING CITIZEN’S CHARTERS FOR ALL SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN IN NAGA CITY, INCLUDING THE SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN FEDERATION, TO ADVANCE TRANSPARENCY, ACCESSIBLE GOVERNANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE DELIVERY OF YOUTH SERVICES:-

Authored by: Hon. Jefson Romeo B. Felix

Explanatory Note

Across many barangays, young people often approach the Sangguniang Kabataan with enthusiasm, ideas, and legitimate needs yet they sometimes encounter uncertainty about where to start, whom to contact, what services exist, or how requests are processed. Questions about educational assistance, program participation, endorsements, consultations, or even simple clarifications frequently circulate informally through chats, word of mouth, or social media, resulting in uneven access to information. This does not stem from neglect or unwillingness on the part of SK officials; rather, it reflects the reality that youth governance operates in dynamic community settings where documentation practices, communication systems, and administrative capacities vary widely.

At the same time, SK officials themselves manage multiple responsibilities program implementation, consultations, reporting requirements, and community engagement while responding to a steady flow of inquiries, invitations, proposals, and requests for assistance. Without a clear, consolidated reference for constituents, officials often respond reactively rather than systematically, repeating information that could otherwise be readily available. Establishing accessible Citizen’s Charters provides a practical way to clarify services, communication channels, and basic procedures, strengthening transparency while helping SK leaders focus more on substantive youth development work rather than repetitive administrative clarifications.

This proposed ordinance institutionalizes Citizen’s Charters for all Sangguniang Kabataan in the City of Naga, including the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, as a deliberate step toward clearer, more consistent, and more accountable youth governance. By pairing reasonable service communication standards with capacity-building support, the measure ensures that transparency is not merely aspirational but operational. Ultimately, this initiative affirms that good youth governance begins with clarity, trust is built through responsiveness, and participation thrives where information is accessible. In advancing this measure, the City of Naga strengthens not only its youth institutions but the very foundation of participatory local governance a commitment whose benefits will be felt far beyond the present generation.

BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Naga, in session duly assembled, that:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Ordinance shall be known as the “Sangguniang Kabataan Citizen’s Charter Ordinance of Naga City.”

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY AND LEGAL BASIS. The City Government of Naga affirms that transparency, accountability, accessibility of public information, and responsiveness to constituents are essential to effective and participatory local governance. These principles are anchored in the constitutional policy of public accountability, reinforced by the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), which empowers local government units to promote the general welfare and citizen participation, and supported by Republic Act No. 10742, otherwise known as the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015, which institutionalizes youth participation, responsible leadership, and transparency in youth governance.

The Sangguniang Kabataan, including the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Naga City, serves as a vital institutional platform for youth engagement in governance, program implementation, and articulation of youth concerns. However, variations in communication practices, documentation systems, and administrative capacities across barangays may affect the consistent accessibility of information on services, processes, and official channels. Strengthening clarity in public communication therefore supports both youth constituents seeking opportunities and youth leaders fulfilling their governance responsibilities.

It is therefore declared the policy of the City to institutionalize Citizen’s Charters for all Sangguniang Kabataan as a practical transparency mechanism that clearly communicates services, processes, and communication standards. This initiative seeks to strengthen public trust, improve access to opportunities, reinforce institutional continuity, and ensure that youth governance in Naga remains accessible, responsive, and accountable, while keeping compliance administratively practical and proportionate to barangay capacities. Through this measure, the City affirms that clarity in governance is essential to sustaining participation, institutional trust, and the long-term vitality of youth leadership in local development.

SECTION 3. COVERAGE. This Ordinance shall apply to all Sangguniang Kabataan at the barangay level within the territorial jurisdiction of the City of Naga, as well as the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Naga City.

SECTION 4. DEFINITION OF CITIZEN’S CHARTER. For purposes of this Ordinance, the following terms are hereby defined:

1. Citizen’s Charter – A publicly accessible document issued by the Sangguniang Kabataan that sets forth its services, programs, governance functions, procedures for official communications and requests, service commitments, and other relevant information consistent with its lawful authority, approved programs, and operational capacity.
2. Institutional Profile – Basic information describing the mandate, composition, functions, and official contact details of the Sangguniang Kabataan intended to orient constituents on its role and governance responsibilities.
3. Service Information – A clear description of the programs, activities, assistance mechanisms, or participation opportunities provided by the Sangguniang Kabataan, including their general purpose and intended beneficiaries.
4. Service Procedures – The established steps, requirements, or processes through which constituents may request assistance, participate in programs, secure endorsements or certifications, or otherwise engage with the Sangguniang Kabataan.
5. Service Standards – Reasonable and indicative timelines, response commitments, or procedural expectations adopted by the Sangguniang Kabataan in the delivery of services, handling of requests, and conduct of official transactions, taking into account operational capacity and resource availability.
6. Official Communication Channels – Authorized means through which constituents may formally communicate or coordinate with the Sangguniang Kabataan, including physical offices, official electronic mail, designated social media platforms, or other officially recognized channels.
7. Official Correspondence – Written or electronic communications formally addressed to the Sangguniang Kabataan or its Federation in relation to official functions, including requests, proposals, invitations, endorsements, inquiries, or similar communications requiring acknowledgment or appropriate action.
8. Contact and Access Information – Essential details that enable constituents to reach or engage with the Sangguniang Kabataan, including office location, contact persons, communication platforms, schedules of availability, or equivalent access points where applicable.

SECTION 5. ADOPTION, FORM, AND MAINTENANCE. All covered Sangguniang Kabataan shall prepare, adopt, and maintain their respective Citizen’s Charters. Adoption shall be documented through an appropriate official act, such as a Sangguniang Kabataan resolution, federation action, or equivalent official record, consistent with applicable governance and documentation practices. Citizen’s Charters shall be presented in a clear, concise, accurate, and administratively manageable form. They shall be reviewed and, where necessary, updated at least annually to reflect current programs, services, communication procedures, and operational priorities, particularly following approval of the Annual Barangay Youth Investment Program or corresponding federation program directions.

SECTION 6. MINIMUM CONTENTS. Citizen’s Charters shall provide clear and accessible information on the following, as applicable to the concerned Sangguniang Kabataan:

1. Youth participation mechanisms, including Katipunan ng Kabataan assemblies, consultations, and other engagement platforms;
2. Programs, activities, initiatives, and opportunities offered by the Sangguniang Kabataan;
3. Educational assistance initiatives, scholarship facilitation, or related support mechanisms where available;
4. Coordination or partnership arrangements with youth organizations, schools, civic groups, or community initiatives;
5. Procedures for requesting certifications, endorsements, participation confirmations, or official communications;
6. Basic access information for non-confidential documents, reports, or program information; and
7. Official channels for inquiries, feedback, coordination, or other constituent communications.

All services, programs, or commitments reflected in the Citizen’s Charter shall correspond only to approved initiatives, lawful functions, and available resources of the concerned Sangguniang Kabataan.

SECTION 7. HANDLING OF OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCES AND COMMUNICATIONS. All Sangguniang Kabataan covered by this Ordinance shall establish reasonable procedures for the receipt, acknowledgment, evaluation, and response to official communications, including letters, invitations, requests, proposals, inquiries, and similar correspondences relating to their official functions.

Acknowledgment of receipt shall ordinarily be issued within five (5) working days through appropriate official channels. Substantive responses for routine matters should generally be provided within fifteen (15) working days, taking into account the nature of the request, necessary consultations, resource considerations, or required coordination with other offices.

The standards set forth in this Section pertain solely to communication responsiveness and shall not be construed as requiring approval of requests. Communications inconsistent with law, approved programs, available resources, or ethical standards may be declined with appropriate explanation. Nothing herein shall be interpreted as mandating public disclosure of official correspondences; the intent is to promote professional responsiveness while respecting confidentiality and lawful information management.

SECTION 8. RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION PRACTICES. To support communication responsiveness, institutional continuity, and administrative accountability, Sangguniang Kabataan shall maintain basic records management practices covering official correspondences, documents, and service-related requests.

Such practices may include simple logging systems, documentation of actions taken, and retention of records consistent with applicable governance and documentation standards. These measures are intended to strengthen institutional memory, support orderly transitions in leadership, and promote accountability while remaining proportionate to the operational capacities of barangay-level youth governance.

SECTION 9. ACCESSIBILITY AND PUBLICATION. Citizen’s Charters shall be made reasonably accessible to constituents through appropriate means, which may include posting in visible areas within barangay halls or Sangguniang Kabataan offices, publication through official digital platforms where available, or provision upon reasonable request by youth constituents or partner institutions. Accessibility measures shall prioritize clarity, practicality, and ease of understanding to ensure that the Citizen’s Charter effectively supports public awareness, engagement, and informed participation in youth governance.

SECTION 10. CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation of Naga City, in coordination with the Naga City Youth Development Office and other relevant city offices, shall provide continuing capacity-building and technical assistance to support the preparation, updating, and effective maintenance of Citizen’s Charters by all covered Sangguniang Kabataan.

Such support may include orientations, reference templates, writing and documentation guidance, service mapping workshops, information management assistance, and peer-learning or knowledge-sharing activities. Capacity-building initiatives shall emphasize practicality, sustainability, and adaptability, taking into account the varying operational capacities and resource conditions of barangay-level Sangguniang Kabataan.

SECTION 11. MONITORING, DOCUMENTATION, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND INCENTIVE ALIGNMENT. Implementation of Citizen’s Charters shall be integrated into existing youth governance coordination, documentation, and monitoring mechanisms of the City. The Sangguniang Kabataan Federation may request copies or documentation of adopted Citizen’s Charters for reference, coordination, institutional support, and continuous quality improvement purposes.

Monitoring under this Ordinance shall prioritize institutional strengthening, accuracy of information, accessibility of services, and responsiveness to constituents. Such monitoring shall be developmental in nature and shall not be construed as punitive or disciplinary, except where otherwise provided by applicable laws, rules, or regulations.

The availability, accessibility, and regular updating of a Citizen’s Charter shall form part of the supporting indicators in assessing compliance with good youth governance standards under City Ordinance No. 2024-064, otherwise known as the Seal of Good Youth Governance Ordinance of the City of Naga, and may be considered in determining eligibility for recognition, incentives, or commendation programs, subject to applicable implementing guidelines.

SECTION 12. TRANSITORY PROVISION. All covered Sangguniang Kabataan are encouraged to initiate the preparation and adoption of their respective Citizen’s Charters at the earliest practicable time following the effectivity of this Ordinance. Full institutionalization of Citizen’s Charters across all Sangguniang Kabataan in the City of Naga shall be progressively pursued, with the objective that all Sangguniang Kabataan shall have adopted and made available their respective Citizen’s Charters by June 30 of the calendar year 2027.

During this transition period, the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, in coordination with the Naga City Youth Development Office and other relevant city offices, shall provide continuing technical assistance, capacity-building support, reference templates, and advisory guidance to facilitate preparation, adoption, and updating of Citizen’s Charters.

SECTION 13. FUNDING. Implementation of this Ordinance may be supported through existing resources of the Sangguniang Kabataan, initiatives of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, or relevant city youth development programs, subject to applicable budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring substantial additional appropriations as a precondition for compliance.

SECTION 14. NON-DUPLICATION AND COORDINATION. Citizen’s Charters prepared pursuant to this Ordinance shall complement, and not duplicate, the mandates, services, or functions of barangay, city, or national government agencies. Where services involve coordination with other offices or institutions, appropriate referral or coordination pathways shall be clearly indicated.

SECTION 15. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this Ordinance is declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 16. REPEALING CLAUSE. All ordinances, resolutions, executive issuances, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with any provision of this Ordinance are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SECTION 17. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval and publication in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

ENACTED: February 18, 2026

WE HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the foregoing ordinance.

LILIAN PASCUAL
Acting Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod

GABRIEL H. BORDADO JR.
City Vice Mayor & Presiding Officer

APPROVED:

MARIA LEONOR G. ROBREDO
City Mayor