Teachers from the Department of Education serving in the May 12 national and local elections will receive higher pay this time plus a service incentive, a Commission on Elections official said Friday.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-Negros Island Region, said that the poll honoraria comes following requests for higher rates, as well as other benefits.
“The teachers will also receive a service incentive leave, recommended at five to seven days, and a monetary incentive increase,” Castillano said in an interview.
He stressed the importance of the teachers being remunerated for their efforts especially for those in Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, and other areas in Negros Occidental if the elections are moved to different locations in the event of a volcanic eruption.
The honorarium rates for those in the Board of Election Inspectors are P12,000 for the chairperson, P11,000 for the poll clerk, P10,000 for the third member, and P8,000 for the support staff.
In the 2022 elections, the honorarium was lower at P10,000 for the chairperson, P9,000 for the poll clerk and another member, and P6,000 for the support staff.
The teachers’ training on election laws, and the use of Automated Counting Machines will be held sometime in March.
Castillano also said the teachers will also be prepared for a worst-case scenario where the elections in Canlaon City will be transferred to other venues if Alert Level 4 is raised relative to the restive volcano.
Plans to transfer the Canlaon City voting centers include the entire first district of Negros Oriental where schools are to be used as evacuation centers.
This means that teachers in Canlaon will also have to be relocated to a “new assignment” on election day.
The 1st District covers Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan City, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, and Manjuyod.
The Comelec said there would be no postponement of elections even if the volcano erupts, as this would hamper the nationwide results of the polls. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)