The Department of Education (DepEd) received approval from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to increase the honoraria paid to teachers serving as Electoral Board (EB) members and poll workers in the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections.
Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones wrote to Comelec in February 2021, explaining the Department’s proposal to increase the honoraria of teaching and non-teaching personnel serving during the election due to the public health situation.
“We want to express our gratitude to the COMELEC for approving our request for higher compensation for our teachers that will render their services in the next year’s election. Given the current health situation, it is rightful for them to receive additional allowance,” Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.
According to a response letter dated April 29 from COMELEC Chairman Sheriff Abas via Executive Director Bartolome J. Sinocruz, Jr., the Commission fully supports the adjusted honoraria, which will be increased by Php3,000.00.
The Department proposed the following honoraria rates for Chairpersons, EB members, DepEd Supervisor Officials (DESO), and Support Staff, based on the Consumer Price Index and Inflation Rate as of January 2021: Php9,000.00 for Chairpersons; Php8,000.00 for EB members; Php7,000.00 for DESO; and Php5,000.00 for Support Staff.
Along with remuneration, Comelec’s budget proposal for the 2022 elections will include transportation allowances, food and water allowances, and clean-up and repair/maintenance expenses.
With the current risk of COVID-19 infection, the Department of Education’s request for health insurance coverage for those who contract the virus will also be included in the budget proposal. Additional benefits, such as on-site swab testing, shifts in and working hours of public school teachers in the EB, tax exemption, and absence/transfer/leave of DepEd employees due to election-related incidents, will be examined by the Commission and the Department.
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To ensure that teachers are technically and legally prepared for the upcoming elections, the Department has also proposed the establishment of COMELEC-DepEd Monitoring and Coordination Teams as part of the DepEd Election Task Force for 2022, which will be composed of select officials and personnel from the various levels of DepEd governance. Honoraria for members of the Monitoring and Coordination Teams will also be included in the budget, the Commission stated.
“With DepEd and the teachers’ vital participation in the 2022 National and Local Elections, we will continue our dialogue with COMELEC to ensure the health and welfare of our teachers and personnel who will be sitting in the polling,” Briones added.
Prior to making the decision, COMELEC Commissioner Marlon Casquejo and DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua discussed the matter on February 8. The rate increase was calculated by the Department of Education’s Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development (BHROD).
“While DepEd and COMELEC have both agreed on the proposal, the proposed increase will still need the approval of Congress when they deliberate the annual budget” said Undersecretary Pascua.
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