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Teachers should get full pay for poll duties, says group
By MEL MATTHEW DOCTOR,GMA NewsTeachers serving election duties in the May 9 elections should get their honoraria in full, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said.
The group reiterated an earlier question to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the mode of payment for teachers who will go on duty as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), stressing that they deserve to get the full amount "down to the last centavo."
“We have sought clarification on the mode of payment for BEIs as early as November 2021, precisely because we don’t want a repeat of 2019. We want to make sure that our teachers will easily access their hard-earned election service pay without any further deductions, especially with the imposition of the hefty 20% tax," ACT secretary general Raymond Basilio said in a statement.
"We hope that Comelec shares this intent with us and meet with us for further discussions regarding the matter and several others that demand their immediate attention and action,” he added.
Basilio recalled the use of cash cards in the past elections when teachers were charged for every withdrawal. The amounts below P100 could also be withdrawn.
ACT proposed to Comelec to release the BEIs' pay in cash or course it directly through their payroll accounts.
“We only have about a month left before the May 9 polls, we need Comelec to address the issues we have been raising for almost a year now. After all, our BEIs will be at the frontlines of the upcoming crisis-ridden and precarious elections—ensuring their welfare and rights are vital in the preparations for a peaceful, safe, and proper conduct of elections," Basilio said.
Comelec on Monday pledged to help teachers
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Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the poll body will look into the appeal of teachers and endorse it to concerned agencies like the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
ACT earlier said that the P2,000 travel allowance of teachers was subjected to 20 percent tax or a P400 deduction.
In June 2021, the Department of Education proposed the following honoraria rates based on the Consumer Price Index and inflation rate as of January 2021: P9,000 for electoral board (EB) chairpersons; P8,000 for EB members; P7,000 for DepEd supervisor official (DESO); and P5,000 for support staff.
On November 2021, Comelec released Resolution No. 10727, which provides the honoraria rates, allowances, and other benefits of poll workers: P7,000 honorarium for EB chairperson; P6,000 honorarium for EB members; P5,000 honorarium for DESO; and P3,000 honorarium for support staff.
Aside from honoraria, the EB chairperson and members, DESO, and their respective staff should each get a P2,000 travel allowance.
Every DESO and DESO technical support staff will receive a P1,500 communication allowance. EB members, DESO and their team shall each get P500 anti-Covid19 allowance.
The group earlier opened a helpline for BEIs' concerns during and after the elections. The ACT Teachers’ Election Hotline may be reached via mobile numbers <0961 421 5053> and <0967 446 1266>; email <act.hotline@gmail.com>; and facebook <https://facebook.com/actph1982>.—LDF, GMA News