THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has begun distributing honoraria to teachers who served as poll workers during the recent National and Local Elections, aiming for completion within ten days of Election Day. This accelerated payment schedule surpasses the 15-day timeframe mandated by the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).
Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia announced the initiative on Friday, highlighting the poll body’s commitment to swiftly compensating the teachers for their crucial role in the electoral process. “For the past three years, we’ve prioritized the distribution of honoraria to our teachers,” Garcia stated. “The ESRA Law allows for 15 days, but we aim to complete payments in less than ten.”
The honoraria include an additional P2,000 for teachers serving as members of the Election Registration Board (ERB), bringing their total compensation to P10,000, while ERB chairpersons will receive P12,000.
Chair Garcia reported significant progress in several regions. “Region 3 (Central Luzon) has achieved 100% distribution as of yesterday,” he said, adding that Region 5 is nearing completion with 95% of payments disbursed. “We believe the teachers deserve to receive their hard-earned compensation immediately.”
This expedited payment process follows the Comelec’s January announcement of plans to train at least 186,000 teachers to serve as ERB members for the 2025 midterm elections. The efficient distribution of honoraria this election cycle suggests a commitment to ensuring smooth operations and timely compensation for future elections as well.
