SK leaders render service as Army reservists amid quarantine

BUTUAN CITY, Mar. 26 (PIA) -- Upon the implementation of the community quarantine in Butuan City, the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders in the city have partaken in the heightened inspection in the checkpoints alongside police and military forces.

Former SK Federation president Engr. Wen Kok Lim Chiang II reiterated that all SK leaders will automatically become reservists upon their appointment to the position. As such, they are to respond to the directives of the military, especially at dire times such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we are only reservists, we may not be equipped with advance level training such as those of our police and military personnel but we are doing our best to help our local government and maximize our role as public servants," he added.

Much like the police and military personnel, the reservists are tasked to conduct thermal scanning and profiling of visitors in the city.

Engr. Chiang recounted some of the major problems faced by the military and police personnel during their shifts such as the failure of the residents and visitors alike to comply with the protocol imposed under community quarantine. Despite the mandatory stay-at-home policy, some still choose to go out and loiter in public. There would also be instances that those waiting in line in the checkpoints would mock and sometimes curse them.

The youth’s act of volunteerism has thus contributed significantly to improve the response of the local government unit (LGU) of Butuan in repressing the spread of the disease in the region.

At present, thirty-seven SK leaders are designated at the five entry and exit checkpoints in the city. In order to continue fulfilling their other duties as youth officials, they work by shifts. In terms of sanitation, the former SK president bared that they are also made to follow disinfection procedures to maintain hygiene and sanitation. (PIA-Caraga)

source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1037208