Teachers still waiting for pay for poll duties

AROUND 100,000 teachers who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) members and support staff during the May 9 polls have yet to receive their honoraria, according to the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT-Philippines).

“It has been three weeks now since the national elections and yet our teachers, who served as BEIs and support staff, remain unpaid of their honoraria,” said ACT Chair Benjie Valbuena in an interview during their protest action in front of the Comelec Main Office in Manila.

“The winners in the senatorial and party-list posts have been proclaimed but the compensation of those who served have not yet been released,” he said.

Sought for comment, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said he has already asked the Finance Services Department to provide him with an update on the actual number of teachers who have not yet been paid.

“I understand that most have already been paid. But I also want to know how many have not been paid,” said Bautista in an interview.

According to Valbuena, there are more than 475,000 public school teachers who served as BEIs in over 92,000 polling centers nationwide.
31 areas nationwide
Based on ACT’s estimates, around 31 areas nationwide still registered incomplete BEI honoraria payment by the Comelec.

Some of them are in the provinces of Antique, Dinagat Islands, Negros Oriental and Pangasinan, as well as cities of Taguig, Naga, Tagum and Pasay.

“We are demanding for the release of the election compensation, which includes the BEI honorarium and per diem, now,” said Valbuena.

Based on Comelec Resolution No. 10031, the chair and members of the BEIs as well as support staff members shall receive a per diem at the rate of P1,000 a day for three days; P500 each for the verification and sealing of the Book of Voters, final testing and sealing of the vote counting machines and transportation allowance; and P2,000 for undergoing training. The total per diem is P6,500.

For her part, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said there is a need for the commission to pay the honoraria of the BEI members and support staff on time.

Election offense

In her memorandum addressed to Comelec Chair Andres Bautista, she noted that the delay in the payment of BEI honorarium is an election offense as provided in Republic Act No. 10756.

“We urge the chair to order the compliance by the Finance Serves Department, especially considering RA 10756,” said Guanzon.