Comelec assures teachers of payment for poll services

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday assured teachers who had served in the recent barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls that their allowances are now ready for disbursement.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said “software glitches” in the bank where the funds are deposited had caused the delay in the release of the honoraria.

“I think the compact disc could not be read by computers. The Comelec decided to release the money to disbursing officers (who) have been disbursing money from the Comelec office,” he said in a press briefing.

Yesterday, poll officials met with officials of the Teachers Dignity Coalition which took up the cudgels for the teachers whose P2,000 honoraria had not been released days after Oct. 25 elections.

Among the teachers who have not received their allowances are those in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Palawan.

Jimenez said affected teachers in Metro Manila may get their honoraria from the Cash Office of the Comelec at its central office in Intramuros.

“It is not yet widely known but they could get it here in the central office. But they have to bring proper identification cards and other pertinent documents,” he added.

The Comelec is finding ways to enable the teachers in the provinces to claim their allowances.

The Comelec main office had released the budget to its provincial election supervisors and election officers who should have paid the teachers P2,000 each for serving in the election.

Faced with complaints from teachers who have not received their honoraria, the Comelec warned its field officials against withholding the funds or face sanctions for doing so.