Bill letting teachers off hook in polls passes in House

A BILL making it non-compulsory for public school teachers to render election service—and allowing other government employees and private citizens to fill in—has passed muster in the House of Representatives.

The 291-strong lower chamber has transmitted House Bill No. 5412, or the proposed “Election Service Reform Act,” to the Senate for the latter’s approval after passing it on final reading last week.

The bill, a substitute consolidating five earlier versions by 10 authors, was among several bills approved on the plenary floor on Oct. 9, a day before the House went on recess.

Objective

The objective of the measure is “to free school teachers from engaging in compulsory election duties as currently practiced and to open up election service to other government employees, members of the Commission on Election (Comelec)-accredited citizen arms and private citizens of known probity and competence.”

Order of preference

Under the proposal, the Comelec may appoint any registered voter in accordance with an order of preference as provided for under the proposed statute to serve in the election, should there not be enough teachers who are willing, available and qualified to do so.

The order of preference is stated as follows: 1) private school teachers; 2) Department of Education nonteaching personnel; 3) other national government officials and employees holding regular or permanent positions, excluding members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police; 4) members of Comelec-accredited citizen arms and other civil society and nongovernment organizations; 5) any citizen of known probity and competence who is not involved with any candidate or political party.

In cases where the peace and order situation requires, only members of the PNP may be deputized as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), Board of Election Tellers (BET) or the Special Board of Election Tellers (SBET).

Benefits

The bill also states that persons rendering election service should be entitled to honoraria, travel allowance and other benefits at rates to be determined and approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The honoraria and allowances shall be paid not more than 15 days after the date of the election, and the rates shall be reviewed, when necessary, by the Comelec and DBM.

A minimum of five days service credit shall accrue to all government employees serving as members of the BEI, SBEI, BET or SBET. Other benefits shall include death and/or medical assistance for election-related risks at rates to be determined by the Comelec and DBM.