P1,500 honoraria for teachers: Comelec passes blame to DBM

The Commission on Elections has passed the blame on the issue of the unfulfilled P2,000 honoraria for all teachers who served as members of the Board of Election Tellers during the last Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections to the Department of Budget and Management.

Acting Comelec chairman Resurreccion Borra said the DBM only approved P1,000 honorarium for teachers and another P500 transportation allowance.  However, Borra said those teachers assigned to precincts where there are SK registrants will receive additional P500 or a total of P2,000.

Borra explained that the DBM also blamed the government’s lack of funds for the unfulfilled promised amount.

The teachers complained after the Comelec issued a memorandum the other day saying that they will only receive half of the amount promised to them during the briefing before the elections.

A teacher from Mambaling Elementary School who requested anonymity said the Comelec is unfair because they were made to believe that they will receive P2,000.  But she also said they understand that the government lacks funds and will continue to serve in their capacity.

Aside from the unfulfilled promise the teachers also complained of the delay in the releasing of their honoraria.

Borra said the honorarium should have been released to the teachers upon return of the certificates of votes.  In fact, Borra said they have released the honorarium to the different municipal and city treasurers, who will release it to the teachers, a week before the election. 

Cebu City treasurer Tessie Camarillo admitted having received the money already last week but explained that the delay of its releasing was due to the holidays.  Camarillo said they are still waiting for the certified list of those who served in the elections from Comelec before they can start preparing the payroll.

She promised that as soon as they receive the certified list from the Comelec this week they can already start the releasing next week.  

According to an October 24 Memorandum of Agreement signed by Comelec and the Department of Education, teachers who served in the October 29 polls are entitled to a P2,000 honorarium and P500-transportation allowance.

The same MOA says half of the funds will be paid upon the issuance of election materials and the balance upon submission of the same materials after the counting of votes.

But DepEd regional director Carolino Mordeno said that even half of the said honoraria has not been paid by the Comelec.

"Many teachers complained of not receiving either the honorarium or transportation allowance.  Many are calling for the immediate payment of the same," he said.

Mordeno said that he will be sending a report to the Central Office of the complaints that he has received in their office.

He said that they will also be calling on the attention of the Comelec on the matter.

Talisay City School Division Superintendent Carmelita Dulangan confirmed yesterday that the teachers and poll tellers were unhappy because they were expected to receive P2,000 for the two days of service in the elections.

Dulangon added that the Comelec should look for ways to keep to their promise.  — Fred P. Languido, Jasmin R. Uy and Brenda D. Batuto/BRP