Saturday, October 27, 2007 Teachers’ groups warn withdrawal from poll duties
SEVERAL teachers’ organizations have threatened to withdraw from their poll duties after learning that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has substantially reduced their pay and benefits from serving as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) for the October 29 elections.
In press briefing Friday, they scored the Comelec for depriving them of transportation allowance as well as insurance coverage for serving in the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.
Aside from these benefits, they said, each BEI will only receive P1,000.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) chairperson Antonio Tinio pointed out that the Comelec has admitted that it has limited funds upcoming polls.
“According to Chairman Resurrecion Borra, Comelec only has P930 million set aside for personnel services for the teachers and other employees who shall perform election duties on October 29. That means teachers serving as BEI will only receive P 1,000,” he said.
Manila Public School Teachers’ Association president Medardo Mercado noted that this is substantially less than the compensation received by teachers in the May 14 national and local elections.
“Last May, we received P3,000 for our services. This reduction in compensation is unacceptable, since teachers will be putting in as much time and effort in these polls,” Mercado complained.
He also denounced the “measly” additional compensation for teachers who will handle SK elections.
“They will be doing double duty, handling both barangay and SK polls simultaneously, yet they will only be paid an additional P500,” said Mercado.
Tess Busadre, president of the Quezon City Public School Teachers’ Association, decried the lack of transportation allowance and insurance coverage.
“Last May we received P300 as transportation allowance. This time around, we get nothing. What’s worse is that the Comelec doesn’t even have funds to provide the P200,000 insurance coverage for teachers,” said Busadre.
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.
Meanwhile, the complaining teachers also demanded justice for Nellie Banaag and Musa Dimasidsing -- teachers who were killed while serving in the May 14 national and local elections.
Banaag was killed when masked men burned down the school house where elections were held in Taysan, Batangas.
Dimasidsing, an election supervisor who denounced massive fraud in Pagalungan, Maguindanao, was shot and killed by an unidentified gunman.
Philippine Public School Teachers’ Association-National Capital Region president Cristina Manalo criticized the government’s apparent lack of recognition for the work performed by teachers during elections.
“We are disgusted that Malacañang is overflowing with ‘cash gifts’ for loyal congressmen and local officials while it cannot even provide fair compensation for teachers performing poll duties. If this administration does not acknowledge the value of our services during elections and refuses to compensate us accordingly, then maybe we will think twice about serving at the polls this time around,” she said.
In a related development, the Department of Education (DepEd) said it is closely coordinating with the Comelec and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the allocation of an additional P2 billion for the remuneration of half a million teachers who will man the polling precincts.
Further, with the safety of public school teachers as its top priority, DepEd also 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 the polling stations and voters.
“We at the DepEd are doing everything we can to respond to the needs of our teachers during the elections,” said Undersecretary for legal affairs Franklin Sunga.
Sunga confirmed that teachers, administrators, and supervisors who will perform election duties shall each receive P1,000 for each day of service, with an additional P500 for those who will also handle SK precincts.
A separate allocation of P3,000,000 will be used by DepEd to pay for the actual medical expenses that may be incurred by DepEd officials and employees in the course of their election duties.
Also, DepEd will launch the 2007 DepEd Election Task Force Operation Center on October 29 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office.
The Task Force will ensure that teachers shall be provided with adequate information, technical and legal assistance in the course of performing their duties as election inspectors.
“We are well-prepared for the elections, and we will go the extra mile to guarantee the safety of our teachers,” Sunga said.
The 97 strong task force headed by an eight-member steering group shall also serve as DepEd’s link to volunteer organizations and individuals involved in the barangay and SK elections.
“As part of our efforts for an orderly elections, we are enjoining every employee of the department to actively participate and assist in the work of the task force,” said Sunga.
The Task Force, which will operate for 48 hours straight – from October 29 to 30 - has a call center monitoring database unit, operations group, logistic and support unit, teachers’ defense, legal and technical unit, and communications unit. (AH/Sunnex)
