Teachers ask Comelec for higher pay, lighter task for barangay election

On the celebration of World Teachers' Day, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition (TDC) made an appeal to Commission on Elections (Comelec) to reconsider a better compensation package and lighter workloads for teachers who will be manning the polls on October 25 Barangay and SK Elections.

 We ask the Comelec to give us higher per diem and lesser number of voters per precinct.

As per Comelec Resolution 9030 or the General instructions for BET and Barangay Board of Canvassers for the October village elections, the Comelec will give a total of P1,500 for every teacher who will sit in the BET. That's really unfair.

In Barangay and SK Elections in October 2007, Comelec attempted to pay only P1,000 per diem while its General Instruction says that it must not exceed P2,000. However, teachers refused to accept the P1,000 payment which prompted no less than Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to order DBM to release funds for another P1,000.

The 2007 experience is a proof that teachers manning the elections deserve more than P1,000 and Comelec must act swiftly on it.

Teachers must be paid not less than P3,000 per diem, P500 for sealing of book of voters and P500 transportation allowance. As for the non-monetary compensation, it is but fair to set aside certain amount for teachers' insurance and a five-day leave credits.

Another thing that teachers question is the statement from Comelec that the maximum voters for each precinct will be cut to 400 from 1,000 to avoid the long queues that somewhat sabotaged the May 2010 first automated elections in the country.

Unfortunately, this Barangay and SK Elections will be done manually. So there is no basis for comparison since the 1,000 maximum voters last May voted in automated manner.

Prior to that, the maximum voters do not exceed 200 in any precinct of clustered precinct.

Apart from the compensation and workload issue, teachers will also ask the Comelec and the authorities to ensure the safety and security of teachers who will be compelled to man the barangay polls.

We call on the authorities for a more law enforcement visibility to secure the polling places and lessen the threats of violence. Barangay and SK Elections are the most prone to untoward incidents being entirely based in the grassroots.

 The TDC, since its formation has been constantly lobbying in both Houses to put an end to the compulsory poll duties of public school teachers.

This is the best gift the Comelec could give the teachers on this international celebration of Teachers' Day.

Benjo Basas

National Chairperson Teachers' Dignity Coalition