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PRECINCT. Early birds cast their votes inside the San Vicente Chapel in Diliman, Quezon City that was converted into a polling center, on May 9, 2022. Jire Carreon/Rappler
Rappler.com
Teachers on election duty are entitled to honoraria, service credits, and insurance
Every Philippine election, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) taps teachers to help administer poll processes in precincts — which are often public schools.
In polling precincts, teachers are usually the personnel distributing ballots to voters and facilitating the feeding of ballots into vote-counting machines. A law from 2016, the Election Service Reform Act, expanded the role to other “qualified citizens.”
Their work does not go unpaid, as the Comelec prepares honoraria and benefits for them. These benefits find their basis in the Election Service Reform Act.
Here are the allowances and benefits teachers are entitled in the upcoming May elections, according to Comelec Resolution 11076 and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC).
Honorarium
Honorarium for Filipinos with election duty, whether or not teachers, depends on their role:
- Chair of the Electoral Board (EB)/Special Electoral Board (SEB) – P12,000
- Members of the EB/SEB – P11,000
- Support staff of the EB/SEB, separate voting room for indigenous people, and priority polling places – P8,000
- Department of Education (DepEd) supervising official (DESO) – P11,000
- DESO technical support staff – P9,000
- DESO administrative support staff – P8,000
The honoraria is currently subject to tax. The TDC said that the Comelec was with the coalition in pushing for tax exemption for future elections. That would require a separate law.
Allowance
Teachers on election duty are entitled to an allowance of P2,000 to cover final testing and sealing, transportation and communication, and training and meals.
Insurance
The TDC, in notes sent out to media, said that the Comelec confirmed a budget of up to P40 million is allocated for disability, accident, or death benefits for teachers on election duty.
Service credits
The original Comelec resolution said that all government officials and employees serving as election support staff accrue a minimum of five days of service credits.
However, TDC said the Comelec decided to increase it to 10 days “to further recognize teachers’ efforts.”
Service credits take the form of vacation leaves.
Medical, legal assistance
The TDC said that medical and legal assistance, as well as indemnification, remain consistent with the provisions of the Election Service Reform Act.
Under the law, the Comelec is mandated to provide medical assistance to persons rendering election services until recovery. They may also seek the Comelec’s help if they are sued in a civil or criminal case related to their election duty.
Hotline
The TDC and poll watchdog Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) are set to establish an election hotline for teachers, just as they had in previous polls.
The hotline “serves as a vital platform where teachers can report concerns, seek guidance, and raise issues related to difficulties, confusion, or irregularities encountered during election duties,” the coalition said.
The TDC has yet to disclose details for this year’s hotline. – Rappler.com
If you are voter and you have questions for Comelec or have something to report to the poll body in relation to the conduct of campaigns and elections, please download the Rappler Communities app for free — iOS, Android, Web — and go to the voter-hotline channel.
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