ILOILO City – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Western Visayas assured that thousands of teachers and support staff who manned the May 2025 national and local elections will receive their honoraria no later than May 27, well within the mandated 15-day post-election payout period.
Comelec Region 6 director Atty. Dennis Ausan said the funds for poll workers’ compensation have already been downloaded to provincial and city election offices after the May 12 elections. Local election officers are currently finalizing withdrawal and disbursement procedures to ensure the prompt release of payments.
“Even if the elections just concluded, the funding for the honoraria has been prepared and downloaded to the respective election offices. We are now working within the 15-day period prescribed by the commission to ensure the timely release of the payments,” Ausan said.
Under Comelec Resolution guidelines, all honoraria must be disbursed within 15 days from election day.
Ausan also extended gratitude to the Electoral Boards (EBs), Department of Education (DepEd) supervisory officials, and other poll staff for their professionalism and vital role in delivering peaceful and credible elections across Region 6.
This year, poll workers are set to receive higher compensation following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval of a P2,000 increase in their honoraria. The adjustment was in response to long-standing appeals for fairer compensation for electoral frontliners.
With the increase, EB chairpersons now receive P9,000; EB members, P8,000; DepEd supervisors, P7,000; and support staff, P5,000.
Nationally, Comelec has earmarked P7.48 billion in the 2025 budget for the compensation of 758,549 poll workers, including travel and communication allowances.
Ausan emphasized that the timely release of honoraria not only rewards the dedication of election workers but also reaffirms the government’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the democratic process./PN
