Teachers gripe on stipend delays

EIGHT days after the elections, the teachers who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) are complaining about the delay in the release of their honoraria.

At the Mabolo Elementary School, teachers complained about the forms they have to fill up and other requirements for them to receive their allowance.

“Nganong magdugay-dugay man nga naa naman kaha ang budget? Nganong mag-cash card pa man? Palinyahon nalang unta mi (Why does it take so long when the budget is supposed to be there? Why do we need cash cards? We should have lined up instead),” said 36-year-old teacher Marissa Besavilla.

She said she found it ironic that while election results are easier and faster to process this year, the same cannot be said for the release of their honoraria.

“Before we receive half of our allowance, now with technology, it’s quite longer,” Besavilla said.

Besavilla said she needs the money to fund her children’s enrollment expenses.

Other teachers said the P4,000 isn’t enough for three straight days of extra work.

But some like 55-year-old principal Donald Crisologo aren’t complaining. “We are waiting for the release, considering that the school season will start next month,” he said.

Cebu  provincial election supervisor Eddie Aba earlier said cash cards issued by Landbank and the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) were already distributed to the teachers last Friday.

The honoraria were supposed to be distributed to the teachers a day or two after the elections. Aba also credited the teachers for helping ensure the integrity of the election process. CNU Intern Nice Ann Teleron