MANILA, Philippines — All teachers who served during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) have received their honoraria, according to the Commission on Elections.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said almost P7 billion had been spent for the honoraria of teachers who served as poll workers.
Data released by the Comelec on Monday night showed that the honoraria for Electoral Board (EB) members and Department of Education Supervisor Officials (DESOs) had been paid.
The Comelec said EB chairpersons received P10,000; EB members, P9,000, and DESO support staff, P8,000.
At least 605,379 teachers served as EB members while 37,333 rendered duties as DESOs.
The Comelec is mandated to pay the honoraria and allowances of teachers within 15 days from the date of elections.
Nearly 500,000 of the more than 900,000 public school teachers served as poll workers in this year’s BSKE.
In Negros Occidental, however, 660 support staff, hired by the Comelec to serve in the BSKE in Kabankalan City, have yet to receive their honoraria, according to Mayor Benjie Miranda.
He said the Comelec office in Kabankalan sought his help to pay their honoraria amounting to P3.7 million.
Miranda said the Comelec admitted to an “honest mistake” when it hired support staffers, which was allowed during previous national elections, but not during the BSKE.
”We are trying to look for a legal basis for them to get paid,” Miranda said.
When asked for comment, provincial Comelec supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria said the case is being investigated.
He said poll workers in two other areas in Negros Occidental have also not been paid their honoraria.