House okays insurance for poll execs, support staff

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill providing compulsory insurance to election officials and workers during national and local elections.

The approved measure, House Bill 6528, substituted House Bill 3710 authored by Reps. Juliet Cortuna, Mariano Piamonte (A-Teacher party-list), Antonio Tinio (Act Teachers party-list) and Andres Salvacion Jr. (Leyte).

The bill’s plenary approval was endorsed by Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms.

The compulsory insurance will be for members of the Board of Election Inspectors, Special Board of Election Inspectors, the Board of Election Tellers and their support staff for every national and local election.