THE Alliance of Concerned Teachers lauded teachers who served in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections last October 30.

More than 400,000 teachers served during the electoral exercise.

“Hindi magiging matagumpay ang eleksyon kahapon kung hindi dahil sa mga gurong buong-pusong naglingkod na BEI. Pinagpupugayan natin ang husay at kasipagan ng mga guro. Gayunpaman, mayroong mga ulat ng karahasan na nagdulot ng kapahamakan sa mga guro at masang botante higit lalo sa ilang mga lalawigan sa Mindanao,” Vladimer Quetua, the group’s national chairperson, said.

“Even though teachers and other poll workers have consistently served in every election, Comelec has not yet comprehensively ensured the safety, protection, and good working environments for them during the electoral process. In this year’s BSKE, there were still numerous recorded incidents that placed teacher poll-workers at risk while performing their duties,” Quetua added.

He said some teachers had to work longer because of some problems such as power interruption and defective equipment.

ACT reiterated its call to increase poll workers’ pay to P10,000 and to make their honorarium tax-free.

It said that overtime pay or additional compensation should be given for extended poll work hours.