Comelec: Honoraria for BSKE poll workers 100% paid

All of the teachers and personnel who rendered services for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) have received their honoraria, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Based on data provided by Comelec Chairman George Garcia, 100% of the 605,379 members of the electoral boards, and 37,333 supervising officers and support staff of the Department of Education (DepEd) have been paid for the poll duties.

Garcia said the Comelec used almost P7 billion for the provision of honoraria for 2023 BSKE poll workers.

BSKE chairman and electoral board members were paid P10,000 and P9,000 of honoraria, respectively. This was an increase from the previous P6,000 and P5,000 granted to them.

DepEd, meanwhile, welcomed the “timely release” of the honoraria for its teachers and  personnel.

“Based on the report submitted by Comelec, 100% of our personnel have received their election honoraria,” it said in a statement.

“DepEd is one with the nation in hoping for a stronger and resilient Philippines with the help of our newly-elected Barangay and SK officials.”

The agency also thanked the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and other agencies for rendering technical, legal, and security assistance to schools and poll workers.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) earlier called on Comelec to remove the tax from the honoraria that poll workers will be receiving for their BSKE service, and to provide them necessary compensation for their overtime.

Garcia had committed that the poll body will push for the teachers’ overtime pay for the BSKE but pointed out the final decision lies with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Sususugan po natin ang overtime pay para sa mga guro. Subalit hindi po sa amin nakadepende ito. Sa DBM at COA. Hindi po kami binigyan ng budget para dito at hindi rin pinapayagan ng umiiral na patakaran ang pagbibigay ng overtime sa mga hindi empleyado ng ahensya. Sana mabago ito,” he told GMA News Online.

(We will push for overtime pay for teachers. But it does not depend on us. It’s up to the DBM and COA. We were not given a budget for this and the existing policy does not allow overtime to be given to non-employees of the agency. I hope this can be remedied.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News