The Department of Education (DepEd) will support the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in securing a higher budget from Congress for the honoraria and allowances of public school teachers who will serve in next year’s polls.

“Nonetheless, we remain steadfast in helping the Comelec secure a higher budget from Congress to provide additional benefits for our DepEd personnel,” the DepEd said in a statement.

The agency said it would support the commission in justifying the benefits. These are:

-Special risk allowance equivalent to a maximum of 25 percent of the monthly basic salary/pay
-Food and water allowance amounting to PHP1,000 per day
-Health insurance coverage for those who will be infected by Covid-19 and the provision of vitamins and other immune-boosting supplements
-Provision of swab testing and other health services in case of subsistence of Covid-19 during the period of the 2022 national elections
-Funds for the clean-up and repair/maintenance expenses of every public school used as a voting center
-Honoraria for the members of the DepEd Monitoring and Coordination Teams of the 2022 DepEd Election Task Force
“We will continue to coordinate with Comelec these significant requests for our teachers and poll workers, who are dedicated to champion clean, safe, and fair elections next year,” the DepEd said.

The DepEd also thanked the poll body for granting adjustments in the honoraria and allowances for public school teachers and poll workers.

Last month, the Comelec granted at least a PHP2,000 increase in the honoraria and other allowances of poll workers who will render duty in the May polls.

Based on 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 and DESO and their staff are also entitled to PHP2,000 travel allowance — PHP1,000 for the day of final testing and sealing of the vote-counting machine and another PHP1,000 for election day.

The DESO and DESO technical support staff will receive a communication allowance of PHP1,500 and members of the EB, DESO, and their team are entitled to an anti-Covid-19 allowance of PHP500.

Based on the resolution, the honoraria and allowances will be paid within 15 days from the date of the election. (PNA)