House OKs compulsory insurance for poll workers

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a bill mandating compulsory insurance for election officials and workers during national and local elections. The compulsory insurance under House Bill 6528 will be for members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI), Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI), the Board of Election Tellers (BET) and their support staff. 

“The compulsory insurance is one way the state could concretely express its recognition of the crucial role of the members of the BEI, SBEI, the BET and their support staff and the dangers that attend every election,” A-Teacher party-list Rep. Juliet Cortuna, one of the authors of the bill, said.   

The bill mandates that the death benefits of election officials and workers include the awarding of P200,000 to the beneficiaries on the first year of implementation of the proposed law, while the insurance coverage will include hospitalization and medical expenses of the injured beneficiary until his/her recovery, notwithstanding benefits provided for by the Government Security and Insurance System (GSIS) or any institution granting the same to the insured.         

The measure, which is expected to be passed on final reading later this month, also provides the insurance coverage will commence from the time the insured is exposed to any election-related risk.  

The coverage starts from, but is not limited to, the acquisition of election paraphernalia and it shall be terminated upon proper turnover of the same to the appropriate receiving officer or until any election-related risk is no longer present, according to the bill.            

The measure also provides that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) shall pay the corresponding premium to be determined by the GSIS.      

Other authors of the bill are Reps. Mariano Piamonte (A-Teacher party-list), Antonio Tinio (Act Teachers party-list), Andres Salvacion, Jr. (Leyte) and Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (Dasmariñas City), chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms.