Poll workers in precincts with defective VCMs may receive at least P2000 add’l honoraria

Poll workers in precincts with defective VCMs may receive at least P2000
add’l honoraria

The additional honoraria to be received by poll workers in precincts that had defective and malfunctioning vote-counting machines (VCMs) and secure digital (SD) cards will not be lower than P2,000, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday.

Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the proposed additional honoraria for the affected poll workers is pending approval in the en banc.

The final amount, however, is still subject to the availability of funds, said Laudiangco.

“This is not overtime pay as overtime pay is not allowed and hindi rin po ito across the board. Not for all electoral boards, dun lang sa affected ng VCM issues at inabutan sila ng delay on account of that,” Laudiangco said in a press briefing.

“Basing in 2019, I believe the figure then was P2,000. There’s no decision yet as to the 2022 elections,” he added.

Laudiangco later told reporters following the press briefing that the final amount for this year’s additional honoraria would at least not be lower than that of 2019.

According to the Comelec, there were 915 defective VCMs during the conduct of the elections last May 9.

“It would be unjust if we could not, at the very least, give additional honoraria to compensate for their additional na pagod at yung delay na inabot nila,” Laudiangco said.

The Department of Education (DepEd) has also requested that additional honoraria be provided "for the extra hours supplied by some teachers owing to VCM and SD card difficulties."

The proposal of the Department of Education amounts to P3,000 for each covered poll worker.

DEPED OFFICIAL STATEMENT
The Department of Education (DepEd), through Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, is wholeheartedly grateful to our teachers and personnel who served in the recently-concluded 2022 National and Local Elections.

The nation has witnessed the bravery and dedication of our legion of educators who significantly contributed to this year's safe and orderly conduct of elections. We are eager to return the favor to our teachers by constantly coordinating with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to release their poll honoraria and other allowances on or before May 24, 2022, as provided for by COMELEC Resolution No. 10727. We will also honor the five (5) days of service credit for those who served as members of the Electoral Boards and DESO and their respective support staff.

In addition, the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF), headed by Undersecretary Alain Del B. Pascua, with Director Marc Bragado as operations head, has proposed to COMELEC an additional pay of Php 3,000 across the board for the extra hours rendered by some teachers due to VCM and SD card issues.

The public is reminded that COMELEC is responsible for the processing and releasing election-related honoraria.

Nonetheless, DepEd is proactively finding ways to further compensate our teachers for their services during elections, guided by the policies of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission of Audit (COA) and with the help of Congress.