Election cash cards delayed

CASH cards will roll out on Tuesday for teachers who served during the Barangay and SK Elections.

Though election officer for Third District lawyer Mohamad Omar Samama said that it may vary per district.

“For third district we can begin releasing it on Tuesday next week (May 22),” Samama said adding that they were only given fifteen days after the election to release the honorarium.

The first district plans to start the release yesterday while the second district will most likely begin next week.

The cash cards were delivered to the Comelec District Offices on May 16 but its distribution was delayed due to additional procedures pertaining to the newly-approved tax exemptions under the TRAIN Law.

Samama explains that under the TRAIN Law, “if you have an income of P250,000 above, you will be subjected to witholding tax, income tax. But those who earn below P250,000 will be exempted,” he said.

Those who are not subjected to witholding tax may issue a sworn statement that they are qualified for exemption, while those who are subjected to tax must fill up form 2307 to serve as proof that they already paid the taxes for the honorarium.

“For those who were exempted from tax, we will sumbit (sworn statement) to Manila and we will refund them with the money we witheld,” he said.

Minus the witholding tax, the cash cards are worth P6,001 for the chairperson, P5,002 for the poll clerk, P4,002 for the DepEd Supervisor (DESU) and P2,003 for the DESU support staff.

More or less 6,000 teachers and non-teachers are expected to get the cash cards in the city.

Not clear instructions

Among the teachers who filled up the cash

card forms yesterday, Aliminda Alao Castañares, said that some of the requirements were not clearly stated.

“That is why there is a delay,” she added.

Although she understands the process before the cash will be rolled out, she suggests that the agency must add contingency plans to the system.

“They must also clarify all the requirements needed ahead of time. Some teachers came from far flung areas just to claim these,” she said. KVC mar were declared dead while the live-in partner and Jenrose were moved to the Provincial Hospital in Digos City.

Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office (DSPPO) provincial director Police Senior Superintendent Samuel Gadingan said food samples were already sent to the Municipal Health Office for testing. An autopsy was also requested for the two toddlers.

"Motive of this incident is yet to be determined and we will immediately wire any development of the case," the report said. JCR