ILOILO City – Teachers in Western Visayas who will serve as electoral board members in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections will receive higher honoraria and increased service credits — an upgrade from previous elections that recognizes their critical role in the conduct of safe and credible polls.
According to Atty. Reinier Layson, provincial election supervisor of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) – Iloilo, the poll body has approved improved benefits for teachers, following strong clamor from educators’ groups to raise compensation for poll workers.
“For this election, our poll workers will be better compensated compared to previous elections,” said Layson. “Aside from increased honoraria, they will now receive 10 days of service credit instead of the usual five, which means their service will be more meaningfully rewarded.”
Under the new compensation scheme, the honorarium rates are:
* Chairperson of the Electoral Board – P12,000
* Board Member – P11,000
* Third Member – P10,000
* Support Staff – P8,000
In addition, all will receive a P2,000 training allowance.
In comparison, during the 2022 elections, the rates were lower — P10,000 for the chairperson, P9,000 for the members, and P6,000 for support staff.
The 10-day service credit was granted through Comelec Minute Resolution No. 24-1032, adopted on December 16, 2024. This move aligns with Republic Act No. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act of 2016, which sets five days as the minimum number of service credits but allows agencies to go beyond it.
Service credits, under Department of Education (DepEd) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) rules, are convertible to vacation leaves and can be used to offset absences due to illness or personal reasons.
In Region 6, a total of 35,949 teaching personnel from DepEd are expected to serve as electoral board members. Another 2,875 non-teaching personnel will be assigned to school preparations and logistics, while 2,217 other staff will comprise the regional Election Task Force and serve as utility support.
Electoral board members are tasked with managing the voting process, operating the Automated Counting Machines (ACMs), assisting voters with their ballots, and ensuring order in polling precincts on election day./PN
