Teachers’ election honorarium in 9 LGUs still unpaid

The Commission on Elections has not yet paid public school teachers who served during the recent Barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan election in 9 local government units in Negros Occidental, data from the poll body’s provincial office showed.

Data showed that the COMELEC has not yet paid teachers in Victorias City, Valladolid, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Himamaylan City, Cauayan, Hinobaan, and Bacolod City.

Data also showed that Negros Occidental has paid a total of 9,027 members of the electoral board, 393 Department of Education Supervisor Officials (DESO), 410 support staff and 894 Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC).

Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria, provincial election supervisor, today said that the delay of the release of the honoraria is caused by the lack of security bond of some election officers or that they have unliquidated cash advances.

Ananoria clarified that the funds for the 10 LGUs were coursed through the poll body’s regional office.

He said the other LGUs have been paid.

“As we speak, it is now being downloaded to their accounts. We expect by Wednesday or Thursday this week all the teachers will be all paid,” he pointed out.

Under the Election Reform Act, COMELEC has 15 days to pay, he added.

Ananoria said some election officers have released the honorarium as early as November 31.

He also said that the failure to release the honorarium within 15 days is deemed an election offense.

COMELEC Chairperson George Garcia said the honorarium for poll workers have gone up from P5,000 and P6,000. For electoral board members and chairpersons, the rates increased to P9,000 and P10,000, respectively.

The Department of Education Supervisor Officials (DESO) assigned to polling centers would get P9,000 each for poll duty, while the support staff will receive P5,500 each.* (Eugene Y. Adiong)