Look after poll workers' well-being, Comelec urged

MANILA, Philippines - Employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday called on the poll body to look into the well-being of its 5,000 personnel who will be running the elections on May 13.

"The Honorable Chairman Sixto Brillantes’ passion and fervor in defending the efficiency and security of the PCOS machines is outstanding. We wish to see the same passion and fervor from him in making sure that the election workers who’ll be charged to run the upcoming polls on the ground are in tip-top shape and will work without a hitch," Comelec- Employees Union national president Mac Ramirez said.

“Gaano man ka-epektibo ang mga mga makina, baka mauwi rin ang lahat sa wala kung ang mga taong magpapagana sa kanila, ang mga magpapatakbo ng eleksyon sa ibaba, ay gutom at hindi nasasahuran ng tama,” he said.

He noted that the poll body's rank and file employees are not adequately compensated compared to employees in other government agencies and Constitutional Bodies.

He cited that a Comelec Provincial Election Supervisor 1 is paid with wages much lower than a Division Chief in other government offices.

Meanwhile, an Election Officer 1, according to the group is paid with a measly monthly salary of P18, 333 (Salary Grade 12) despite their huge responsibility of running the elections in a district, city or municipality.

"This is why we are calling for the immediate adjustment in the salary of the Comelec rank and file. We also support the snowballing clamor for the P6,000 increase in the minimum pay of public sector employees nationwide," Ramirez said.

As this developed, Ramirez announced that the election workers will gather on Feb. 9 to reiterate call for salary increase.