NAGA CITY (Nov. 22) – Atty. Maico Julia, head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Naga Field Office, said today that as stated in Comelec Resolution No. 8300, public school teachers who served as members of the Board of Election Tellers during the Oct. 29 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections are entitled to receive the amount provided for by the resolution.
"An nakalaag sa G.I. (General Instructions), Php 2,300 an makukua. Pero an pig-release palan kan Comelec Manila, Php 1,000 sa honorarium tapos Php 500 sa transportation allowances. An nag-serve sa SK, may additional na Php 500 tapos si nag-board of Canvassers (BOC), may Php 500 man," said Julia.
Julia's statement came after public school teachers expressed disappointment over the delayed compensation for their services as election officials almost a month ago.
Julia added that the local Comelec field office had no jurisdiction over the matter. "Comelec Manila kaya an nagpadara ka'yan. Kun siring, mayo kami control digdi sa field", said the Comelec official. He also explained that the Comelec office in Manila sends the amount directly to the City Treasurer's Office.
According to Julia, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered an additional Php 1,000 to be added to the teachers' pay, bringing their total compensation to Php 2,500. However, Julia admits that the local Comelec office has yet to receive a timeline for the said increase and that it would probably be released to the teachers by December.
Atty. Julia defended the Comelec Naga field office, saying that the official function of their office is to implement Comelec Manila's directives.
Even so, Julia sided with the teachers saying that, "Kun isipon, may right man magreklamo an mga teachers ta haloy na tapos partial pa."
To date, the local Comelec field office has yet to receive an official explanation from the main office in Manila concerning the delayed release of funds for the teachers' compensations.
Julia also disclosed that their office is in close coordination with the Naga City Schools Division Mrs. Evangeline Palencia regarding the issue. As a final thought, the Comelec official calls on the teachers to be patient, pending the release of the remaining amount for their pay.
