Law signed on non-compulsory poll duty for teachers

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has signed the Election Service Reform Act or Republic Act 10756, making election duty non-compulsory for public school teachers.

Signed on April 8, the law allows the Comelec to appoint private school teachers, national government employees except military personnel, non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education and members of citizen’s arms and non-government and civil society organizations as election officers.

The citizen’s arms and NGOs should be accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The law also authorizes the Comelec to appoint as board of election inspectors (BEI) any registered voter of known integrity and competence who is not connected with any candidate or political party.

Uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police may be deputized as a last resort in areas where the peace and order situation so requires and where there are no qualified voters willing to render election service.

The law grants P6,000 allowance to the BEI chairman; P5,000 to members; P4,000 to DepEd supervisor and P2,000 per support staff.

Aside from the allowance, other benefits like medical and death assistance amounting P500,000 and legal assistance should also be granted to the election workers if the need arises.

Comelec, DepEd welcome law

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista welcomed the signing of the law, but noted the poll body could no longer implement it on May 9.

So did the Department of Education (DepEd), which expressed confidence that the public school teachers would always be ready to help serve the country.

Bautista said the poll body sees no problem with the new law as it can tap other qualified people to serve as election officers.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said DepEd welcomes legislation that promote and uphold the rights and safety of teachers.

Luistro expressed confidence that the teachers are always ready to help and serve the people.

Benjo Basas of the Teacher’s Dignity Coalition welcomed the signing of the measure, but noted it might be difficult to implement it in next month’s polls.

PPCRV volunteers ready to serve

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) national chairperson Henrietta de Villa said their volunteers are ready to serve as BEIs even in areas considered as “hotspots.”

De Villa gave assurance that they would serve nationwide and would not be choosy in their assignments.

She said they could be assigned as BEIs in far-flung areas such as Batanes, Mountain Province, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

No canvassing at Manila Hotel

Meanwhile, the Comelec has scrapped its plan to use the Manila Hotel as venue for the national canvassing for the May 9 elections.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the poll body had voted to stay at the government-run Philippine International Convention Center.

The Comelec had considered transferring the national canvassing for senators and party-list groups to the Manila Hotel from the PICC based on Bautista’s recommendation. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Janvic Mateo, Evelyn Macairan