Bam Aquino: Make sure teachers who will serve in May polls are paid

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Bam Aquino on Saturday said government should make sure that teachers who will serve as board of election inspectors in the May midterm elections will be properly compensated.

According to Aquino, if the 2019 budget is reenacted, Congress could pass a supplemental budget for the honoraria of teachers who render election day duties.

He added that Congress is determined to pass the General Appropriations Act by next week.

Aquino made the statement after Commission on Elections spokesman James Jimenez earlied said that no honoraria will be given to teachers who will render election day duties if the 2019 budget is not reenacted.

“If the budget is not enacted, we will not be able to get source or funds for that (honoraria of election workers). We won’t have any money to pay the teachers,” Jimenez said during a press briefing.

READ:  Comelec: No honoraria for teachers on poll duty if 2019 budget is reenacted

But Aquino has assured that teachers who will serve during the elections will be paid.

“Gagawin natin ang lahat para masigurong mababayaran ang ating mga guro sa kanilang trabaho sa darating na halalan. Bigyan natin sila ng karampatang pagkilala at huwag ibitin ang mga kompensasyon at benepisyong itinakda ng batas para sa kanila,” Aquino, vice chairman of the Committee on Finance and member of the Senate bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2019 budget, said in a statement.

“Sayang naman ang batas na ating isinulong kung hindi mapakikinabangan ng mga guro,” Aquino added in reference to Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act that he pushed in 2016.

Under the said act, teachers who will be deployed for election day are entitled to receive corresponding honoraria based on hierarchy.

Chairpersons of electoral boards are entitled to receive P6,000, while members of electoral boards will get P5,000.

A supervisor is entitled to get P4,000 while members of the supporting staff will receive P2,000.

In addition, all teachers who rendered election day service will also get a travel allowance of P1,000 each.  /muf