PUBLIC school teachers who will man the polls in May 2010 are expected to get a total of P4,300 for their services even as teachers' training for the automated elections will start on March 2010.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus and Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo last week signed a memorandum of agreement to ensure fair compensation for the Department of Education (DepEd) employees serving in the automated national and local elections.
Lapus said, "Our teachers need to be fully compensated as they perform central roles in this political exercise."
He cited the event is part of a series of cumulative measures to ensure clean, honest, and peaceful elections.
The upcoming elections will be the first automated elections held in the country.
DepEd Undersecretary Franklin Sunga and Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal came to an agreement on teacher compensation package last December at the Comelec Central Office in Intramuros, Manila.
In the memorandum of agreement, Comelec agreed to the compensation demands by various teachers' organizations.
Those who will participate in the 2010 elections are expected to receive the following: members of the Board of Election Inspectors including the chair will get P3,000 each, plus P300 transportation allowance.
Another P500 will be given for the inspection, verification, and sealing of book of voters plus another P500 for the inspection, verification, and sealing of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS).
Likewise, team leaders (school heads, principals and education supervisors who are not members of the BEI) who will supervise certain precincts will receive P3,000.
Members of the board of canvassers in the municipal, city and provincial levels will get P5,000.
Janitors and messengers who will be assigned in certain precincts during the elections will get P1,500.
Sunga added the Comelec will also set aside P30M as part of the teacher compensation deal.
This amount will be allotted for election-related death or injuries that may be sustained by DepEd employees in the performance of their duties. The heirs of the deceased official/employee shall be given the amount of P200,000.
He added teachers' organizations such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC), and the Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (Assert) welcomed the positive outcome of their demands from the Comelec. (DepEd release)