P18.5M belated cash aid for Comelec ok'd

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has already approved the long overdue financial assistance to the Commission on Elections to defray for the expenses incurred by the poll body in the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last October 25.

The Council approved the recommendation of Councilor Jose Daluz III, chairman of the committee on budget and finance, to release P18.5 million financial assistance to the Comelec.

The amount will cover for the additional honoraria of teachers and Comelec support staff who served during the elections; meal allowance of the police, Comelec personnel and other deputies.

Based on the itemized list of expenses submitted by election officers Edwin Cadungog and Marchel Sarno, the amount will be used to pay for the P9,157,800 million packed meals; P3.607 million honoraria for 4,311 public school teachers who serve as Board of Election  Inspectors (BEIs), administrators and support staff including policemen and  jail personnel.

Each election inspector and support staff will get P500 each. The amount however is on top of the regular budget from the Comelec.

The financial assistance granted to the Comelec will be charged against the P25 million Election Reserve Fund of the city which was part of the P255 million Supplemental Budget II for 2010. (FREEMAN)