Pay package for teachers in polls

WE anticipate better compensation package, insurance and protection for teachers who will opt to serve the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14, 2018. We laud the passage of the Election Services Reform Act (RA 10756) that we believe will reduce, if not totally put an end to harassment, intimidation, violent attacks and postelection cases suffered by the teachers in the past elections.

Because of this law, teachers will not be compelled to serve the elections if they perceive that they are not safe, secured o well compensated or simply they just do not want the task. They can now have the option to serve or not.

Optional election duty was one of our main advocacy calls when we formed the group on April 8, 2006. We, along with other organizations and non-government organizations, notably the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) has initiated a national advocacy campaign coupled with academic researches, petitions, forum-consultations and legislative lobbying for the bill which finally approved by the Congress on April 8, 2016, coincidentally the celebration of our 10th anniversary. It was like an anniversary gift to us.

We are confident that the law’s first test for implementation will favor the teachers who will sit in the electoral board (EB) for the upcoming Barangay and SK elections.

Under the Commission on elections (Comelec) Resolution 10211, the benefits for those who will opt to serve include the following: a. P6, 000 honorarium for EB chair; b. P5, 000 for EB members; c. P4, 000 for Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO); d. P2, 000 for support staff; e. P1, 000 transportation allowance for all of them;

f. Minimum of 5 days service credit for government employees serving in the polls; g. P500, 000 death benefits; h. P200, 000 medical assistance for injuries/illness; and

i. P50, 000 legal indemnification package.--Benjo Basas, national chairperson, Teacher’s Dignity Coalition