About Kabataang Barangay

The KB Symbol consists of the old Filipino scripts (K) and (B) representing the first letters of the Movement's name. The scripts are put together within a circle to form a logo akin to a face with open eyes and open mouth signifying a youth whose mind and intellect are keenly aware of social needs and is fearless in the expression of his beliefs. Red is the color of the KB Logo signifying strength of spirit and courage that springs from a historical tradition of heroic struggles for national freedom.

The KB Symbol denotes the ideal KB member - critical yet constructive in his socio-political involvements.

Objectives

As the nation's premier youth organization, the Kabataang Barangay aims to:

1. Promote total development of the youth in a manner consistent with the guiding philosophy of the New Republic.
   
   
2. Instill in the youth social commitment and good citizenship, and to assist them in creating a united youth front and concerted action to help government achieve the country's development goals.
   
   
3. Supplement efforts of government in training and preparing in-school and out-of-school youths for citizenship and community life and for gainful employment opportunities so that they can participate in the fruits of development.
   
   
4. Promote and conduct scientific inter-disciplinary and policy-oriented research, studies, training, scholarships, consultancy for the youth and help in the printing and publication of monthly youth endeavors.
   
   
5. Encourage and assist the young in promoting sports, social and cultural activities and in the organization of youth groups, associations and societies designed to promote the objectives of the Kabataang Barangay.
   

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Historical Highlights

Presidential Decree 684

The Kabataang Barangay was created on April 15, 1975 by virtue of Presidential Decree 684. The decree provided for the organization of KB units in the 42,000 barangays all over the country with the purpose of giving the youth a definite role in community affairs and "ample opportunities to express their views that a complete cross-section of the will of the populace could be determined, thereby providing them a more democratic and popular basis for the legislation and/or other governmental operations."

The decree also provided KB membership to all Filipinos eighteen (18) years of age and below. However, under this Decree, only the 15-18 duly registered members of the barangay compose the KB assembly, which elects the KB Council composed of one (1) Chairman and six (6) councilmen. The Chairman automatically becomes an ex-officio member of the adult barangay and acts as the Chairman of the Barangay Committee on Sports and Recreation.

First National KB Elections
On May 1, 1975, the First National KB Elections was held. Elected were council members of 42,000 KB units and presidents of 1,482 Municipal KB Federations, 60 KB City Federations, 75 KB Provincial Federations, 13 Regional KB Presidents and one (1) National KB Federation.

First National KB Congress
On May 10-1, 1976, the 1st National KB Congress was held at the KB Training Center, Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna. It was during this Congress that the KB Constitution was initially drafted.

First KB Constitutional Convention
The KB Constitution was finally framed during the 1st-KB Constitutional Convention held on February 28, 1977 in Mt. Makiling, Los Baños, Laguna and was subsequently ratified by the mass members nationwide on July 28 that same year.

In the same forum, KB leaders agitated for the expansion of KB membership to include youth who are 21 years of age and below.

Presidential Decree 1102
In response to the wide clamor of KB leaders for the expansion of KB membership, Presidential Decree 1102 was passed on February 28, 1977 integrating all youth 21 years of age and below into the Kabataang Barangay.

Presidential Decree 1191
Presidential Decree 1191, promulgated on September 1, 1977 transferred the supervision of KB affairs from the Department of Local Governments and Community Development to the Office of the President. The decree also provided the organization with corporate powers and total autonomy in the management of its fiscal and operational affairs as well as the definition of its policies and program priorities. Thus, PD 1191 came to be knows as the KB Autonomy Decree.

2nd Youth Congress
During the Second National Youth Congress held on September 6, 1978, the KB National Executive Committee (KBNEC) was formally organized. The Committee, composedo of the 13 Regional Federation Presidents, is the highest administrative and central implementing body of the PKKB. It is headed by a chairman. Said chairmanship is rotated among the members not more thatn once every quarter.

Second KB National Elections
The Second KB National Elections was held in April 1980 where a new set of KB federation officers at all levels was elected. Unlike their predecessors, the new municipal, city and provincial KB federation presidents now enjoy the privileges of Presidential Appointees as youth sector representatives to their respective Sanggunians.

KB National Reorganization
On March 6-20, 1982, a national reorganization was conducted. This move was initiated by the KBNEC to fully activate KB federations for the effective implementation of priority programs.

3rd National Youth Congress
The 3rd National Youth Congress was held on June 2-7, 1982 at the Hiyas ng Bulakan Convention Center, Malolos, Bulacan. It is in this forum that the KB members reaffirmed their commitment to the organization and outlined their political and development programs for the next five years.

In the same congress, amendments to the KB Constitution were proposed which were later on presented to the mass membership of the Kabataang Barangay for ratification through a National KB Plebiscite held on November 7-11, 1982. The ratification of the proposed amendments to the KB Constitution was officially proclaimed on February 4, 1983.

Batas Pambansa Blg. 337
Batas Pambansa Blg. 337, also known as the Local Government Code and approved by President Marcos on February 10, 1983, is the general law enacted by the Batasang Pambansa which guarantees and promotes autonomy of local governments. This is done through a system of decentralization giving local governments more responsibilities, powers and resources.

The Code also reinforces the government's recognition of the Kabataang Barangay as an effective, reliable and imperative partner in nation building, thus institutionalizing the KB movement.

The Code mandates that KB Officers be granted automatic representations to all Sangguniang levels up to the Batasang Pambansa. It also changed the term of Kabataang Barangay council officials from two (as provided earlier by PD 1191) to three years, unless sooner removed for cause or by resignation. Furthermore, it exempts them from tuition and matriculation fees during their incumbencies in any public secondary schools.

The Local Government Code also provides that ten percent (10%) of the total general fund of the barangay be appropriated to the local KB unit and that the KB Council can raise funds without securing permit from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

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Programs

National Development Programs
The Kabataang Barangay is primarily aimed at consolidating the nation's youth force toward a two-pronged function: as a support measure to national development efforts of the government; as well as to serve as a pressure group for needed socio-political and economic reforms. These tasks involve Youth Development Training (YDT) and the implementation of development programs oriented to the needs of the youth.

The Youth Development Training program is directed towards generating commitment of KB leaders and members by inculcating in them the significance of their role in developing nationalist consciousness and increased productivity. The program involves sustained studies in Philippine history, Filipino Ideology, youth organization and mobilization, project planning and implementation, discipline and management of KB affairs. YDT is now integrated in all the other training programs of the KB.

The implementation of the various development programs of KB is aimed at meeting the needs of all you th subsectors in the country - agricultural youth, industrial youth, out-of-school youth, the studentry and the young professionals.

The YDT and the various KB development programs are corollary to the government's overall efforts at widening the socio-political perspective of the youth sector.

Economic Development Programs
The Economic Development Program is an integrated vocational skills training program through in-plant, in-farm and classroom type short-term courses aimed at developing industrial, agricultural, entrepreneurial and production skills for the economic upliftment of the out-of-school youth. The program benefits some four million OSYs and is implemented in cooperation with both private and government sectors. The EDP engages in several projects:

1. Batarisan In-Plant Training Project - Batarisan is aimed at providing in-plant industrial training to OSYs. Private industrial establishments provide the facilities and trainors and upon completion of the training, provide placement for jobs to qualified trainees.
   
   
2. Alay-Hanapbuhay Project - is a joint undertaking of the KB and the Ministry of Social Services and Development. Under this project, self-employment assistance with practical skills development are provided to help OSYs attain economic independence through mini-agro, mini-home, or other income-generating projects.
   
   
3. Kabataang Barangay Sakahan Para sa Kaunlaran (KASAKA) - KASAKA is a supervised credit production program for the OSYs which is being implemented by the KB in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture thru the National Food and Agriculture Council. The project aims to provide the rural OSYs with skills required in agricultural production projects for gainful employment. Production projects under the KASAKA include Beef-Cattle Fattening, Goat Production and Legume Production Projects.
   

Educational Development Program

This program aims to train and mobilize the in-school youth for active participation in community development. The program includes the organization of KB School Chapters (KBSCs) and the providing of educational assistance to deserving KB members.

1. Organization of KB School Chapters - The organization of KB School Chapters in all tertiary and secondary levels aims to provide opportunities to the in-school youth to participate in various in-school activities like lecture-forums on national and local issues, leadership seminars, work camps and community outreach projects such as free medical aid, cultural presentations and adult literacy classes.
   
   
2. Educational Assistance Project - This project aims to benefit indigent but deserving KB members to pursue post-secondary studies in selected technical and agro-industrial courses. Educational assistance are provided through the KB Scholarship Program, Ang Pangulo Scholarship Program and the Study Now Pay Later Program.

An annual Summer Leadership Training Course for officers of KB School Chapters and federation presidents nationwide is a special concern under the KB Educational Development Program. Implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, the training provides the participants with adequate leadership and management skills necessary in the fulfillment of their responsibilities as KB leaders.

Cultural Development Program
The program aims to develop young talents in the arts and to instill among the youth pride in the Filipino cultural heritage. Projects implemented under this program are:

1. Dulaang Kabataang Barangay (DKB) - This is the KB's Theater Group which is composed of theatrically inclined members of the KB. The group conducts training workshops in theatre arts, playwriting contests, indigenous theatre material compilations and theatre presentations.
   
   
2. Himig Kabataan - This project involves the formation of KB Choral Groups by local KB units which are then encouraged to compete at the municipal, city, provincial and regional levels. A National Himig ng Kabataan Choral Competition is held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Only Filipino songs, traditional and original compositions are encouraged and utilized.

As a special project under the Cultural Development Program, the Kb has joined hands with the Junior Friends of the Cultural Cener of the Philippines (JFCCCP) in sponsoring an annual concert tour of the Philippine Youth Orchestra in key provinces and cities of the country.

Sports Development Program
The KB's Sports Development Program is aimed at developing sports consciousness among the youth and the propagation of indigenous sports forms such as sipa, arnis and kuntao hand in hand with other sports activities fir for the Filipino physique. The KB Sports Development Program conducts several projects:

1. Sports Management Training - Under this project, youth leaders are provided with adequate knowledge and management skills in the conduct of sports activities in their respective localities. It involves intensive training in sports project planning and implementation and the management of KB's local sports projects.
   
   
2. Sports Competition - The KB conducts regular sports competitions from the barangays to the municipalities, cities, provinces, regions culminating in a national sports competitions featuring modern and traditional sports activities.

The KB manages its own Kabataang Barangay Sports Complex located at Roces Ave., Quezon City. The complex serves as a venue for the various sports activities of the organization.

Formerly known as the Amoranto Stadium which was re-opened to the public in 1979, the KB Sports Complex has s football field, a track, physical fitness and boxing gyms and a swimming pool. It also boasts of the first velodrome ever constructed in the country with electronic scoreboards and timing devices.

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Special Projects

Aside from the major national programs, the KB engages in five special projects:

• KB Appropriate Technology Program
  In the hope of promoting the utilization of appropriate technology for community development, the programs trains OSYs in the development and dissemination of approtech prototypes fashioned from locally available materials.
  
  
• Kilusang Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kabataan (KKKK)
  The KB has been designated as the implementing arm of the National government's KKK Program for the youth sector through Executive Order No. 794. The program provides financial and technical assistance to livelihood projects undertaken by KB OSYs.
  
  
• Mt. Samat Agricultural Youth Farm Project
  The KB youth farm which has a total land area of 100 hectares, is situated at the foot of Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan. It serves as a training venue for KB OSYs who undergo intensive training in agricultural production skills like soil science, vegetable and crop production, orchard, live-stock and forage development and other rudiments of farm management.
  
  
• International Relations Program
  The program aims to foster friendly relations between the Filipino youth and those of other countries. To carry out this function, the IRP maintains linkages with several international youth organizations. It conducts youth tours, educational and cultural exchanges primarily with national youth groups in the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific Region.
  
  
• Information and Publications Program
  The Information and publications program of KB, handled by the Information and Publications Staff (IPS), serves as a support function to the various activities of the organization. IPS also takes charge of providing the informational needs of the KB clientele and the general public concerning the various programs and other undertakings of the KB thru the utilization of the tri-media.
  

To carry out these functions, the IPS holds press conferences on KB activities and sends press releases to both print and broadcast media.

The IPS undertakes the following regular activities:

1. Print Media
   The IPS publishes Panday, the monthly national newsletter of the PKKB which is circulated nationwide. It also supports some 30 local newsletter in the regions.
   
   
2. Broadcast Media
   Attached to the IPS is the KB Radio and TV Staff which handles a total of nineteen (19) radio programs, and three (3) television programs, all in Metro Manila. These are supplemented by some 40 local radio programs in the regions and one television program in Region 9.

Aside from these media-oriented activities, the IPS conducts lecture/forms on local and national issues, as well as training programs and seminars for the information, public relations officers and presidents of the various KB federations at all levels.


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