Comelec says advance payment of teachers’ honoraria not allowed

Comelec headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it is not allowed to pay in advance the honoraria of teachers rendering their services during elections; however, it is looking at other legal ways to help them out in their expenses.

Comelec spokesman Rex Laudiangco issued the remark in response to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s appeal to the poll body to pay in advance the teachers’ honoraria.

“Ang general principle po sa fiscal management ng ating pamahalaan, ang bayad po, ang honoraria, ang sahod ay ibinibigay pagkatapos pong ma-irender ang serbisyo,” he said in a public briefing.

(The general principle in the government’s fiscal management is any payments — whether it be honoraria or salaries — is only given when services have already been rendered.)

“Wala kasi tayong advance payment pagdating sa pamahalaan—be it goods or services po. Mahigpit po ang pagbabawal diyan,” Laudiangco added.

(We don’t have any advance payment in government — be it goods or services. It is strictly prohibited.)

The Comelec, however, is looking at other ways to help teachers with their expenses when rendering their services for the elections.

Laudiangco said they are coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Department of Finance (DOF) to look at possible legal ways that teachers can be paid in advance.

“Tinitingnan namin, maaari bang transportation allowance ang ibigay? Dahil dito kinukunsulta po namin ang COA, ang DBM, pati na rin po ang ating DOF kung maaari, legal ba, at pwede nating gawin ito,” he said.

(We are looking into this, maybe we can give out a transportation allowance? We are consulting with COA, DBM, and even DOF to find legal ways.)

In her appeal, Duterte said the advanced honoraria would help teachers with their expenses while serving the country as part of the Boards.

“Baka naman, sa amin lang Comelec, from the Department of Education, mauna ‘yung bayad sa mga teachers bago ang election. Of course, bumabiyahe sila, kumakain sila, and may gastusin din sila during the days na they are serving our country as part of the Boards,” Duterte asked during the second day of the 2023 National Election Summit.

(For us in DepEd, maybe our teachers can be paid first before the election. This is because they travel, eat, and have expenses while serving the country as part of the Boards.)

JMS