Poll workers in Cebu yet to get honoraria

CEBU, Philippines - More than 1,000 Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in the Province of Cebu have yet to receive their honorarium from Commission on Elections (Comelec) for their service last May 13 elections.

Based on the list from the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor-Cebu, 1,178 BEIs from two cities and five municipalities have not yet received their cash cards where their honoraria of P4,000 will be deposited.

But Comelec Cebu Provincial Supervisor Eddie Aba said he personally made a follow-up on the concern yesterday since he was in their main office at the Comelec-Manila.

He said there was no delay in the disbursement of the money since it was already prepared before the election. But he said that there was instead an error on the release of the cash cards. Aba explained that some BEIs had to be disqualified to serve the election since they were related to political candidates in the area where they were serving.

Based on the memorandum of Comelec Manila to election officers, it stated that payments for the honoraria through Landbank and UCPB ATM cash cards were based on the list submitted to the ITD as required.

"However, considering the various substitutions in the constitution of the board of election inspectors that were made before or during the election day, the changes were no longer reflected in the list submitted to the Landbank or UCPB," stated the memo.

Since there is no time to issue cash cards anymore, the remaining BEIs that have not received their honoraria would be getting money straight from the election officers.

Aba explained that Comelec Manila would be depositing the payment to the second ATM of the municipal and city election officers which in turn would be giving the money to the BEIs.

The EOs would be the one to verify if the BEIs did serve during the election or not.

Based on the list of Comelec, Toledo city had the most number of BEIs, with 369, who have yet to receive their allowance. Carcar city follows with 209 BEIs and Dumanjug with 153. Also, 153 BEIs from Asturias, 117 from Sibonga, 114 from Badian and 78 from Catmon would be getting their honorarium straight from their election officers.  (FREEMAN)