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By Jonathan M. Hicap, Reporter
Teachers are outraged that they will get only P1,000 when they sit
as members of the board of elections inspectors for the barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Monday.
The Department of Education has confirmed that
each teacher will get only that amount, plus an additional P500 if
they will handle SK precincts.
In a report filed by the Philippine News Agency,
the Department of Education, with the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), indicated the
allocation of an additional of P2 billion for the remuneration of
half-a-million teachers who will man the polling precincts in the
synchronized barangay and SK elections.
At a press conference on Friday, the teachers
said they will receive much lower pay and absolutely no
transportation allowance and insurance coverage for serving in the
upcoming polls.
Antonio Tinio, chairman of the Alliance of the
Concerned Teachers, said the Commission on Elections has admitted
that it has limited funding for the polls.
Teachers received P3,000 each in the May
elections.
Medardo Mercado, president of the Manila
Public-School Teachers’ Association, said the reduction in pay is
unacceptable as they will be handling both barangay and SK polls
simultaneously.
Tess Busadre, president of the Quezon City
Public-School Teachers’ Association, also decried their lack of
transportation allowance and insurance coverage.
The teachers called on Malacañang to
immediately allocate funds to cover a P3,000 honorarium for teachers
handling barangay elections, an additional P3,000 for those handling
SK elections on top of the barangay polls, P500 transportation
allowance, and P200,000 insurance coverage for all teachers
performing election duties.
Education Undersecretary for Legal Affairs
Franklin Sunga said that the safety of public school teachers as its
top priority. Hence, the department deemed it necessary to tap the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) to protect, not only the teachers, but also polling
stations and voters.
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