MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) is requesting that the honoraria paid to teachers serving as poll workers in the May 2022 elections be increased.
Secretary Leonor Briones said in a press release issued on Friday that the agency would collaborate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the proposal.
“Although it is less than our proposed increase for our teachers who will serve as poll workers, we appreciate the adjusted rates, and we will coordinate with Comelec for a possible increase of the honoraria and other allowances and benefits,” Briones said.
Last November 10, the Comelec authorized new honoraria and allowances for members of the electoral board (EB) and other poll workers.
However, the approved rates were lower than DepEd’s recommended compensation.
The department established the following honoraria rates last June: PHP9,000 for chairpersons; PHP8,000 for electoral board members, PHP7,000 for DepEd supervisor official (DESO), and PHP5,000.00 for support staff.
Health insurance coverage for those who will be infected with the virus was also requested, as well as other benefits such as on-site swab testing, shifting, and working hours of public school teachers in the electoral board, tax exemption, among others.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10727, teachers who render election-related services are entitled to the following honoraria: chairperson of the electoral board, PHP7,000; electoral board members, PHP6,000; DepEd supervisor official, PHP5,000; and support staff, PHP3,000.
The chairperson and members of the electoral board, as well as DESO and their personnel, are entitled to a PHP2,000 travel allowance, with PHP1,000 for the day of final testing and sealing of the vote-counting machine and another PHP1,000 for election day.
DESO and DESO technical support workers will be paid a PHP1,500 communication allowance, while members of the EB, DESO, and their team will be granted a PHP500 anti-Covid-19 allowance.
The honoraria and allowances will be paid within 15 days following the election, according to the resolution.
If people providing election services die as a result of an election-related risk, they will be entitled to PHP500,000 in death benefits. If they are injured or become ill as a result of an election-related incident, they are eligible for medical assistance in the sum of PHP200,000.
