THE DEPARTMENT of Education asked the Commission on Elections to increase the honoraria of teachers who will render poll duty next year.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones expressed hope that the Comelec will be able to raise the incentives of those who will serve in the coming elections.

On November 10, the poll body released approved new honoraria and allowances for the members of the Electoral Board and other poll workers.

“Although it is less than our proposed increase for our teachers who will serve as poll workers, we appreciate the adjusted rates, and we will coordinate with Comelec for possible increase of the honoraria and other allowances and benefits,” Briones said.

The Department proposed the following honoraria rates based on the Consumer Price Index and inflation rate as of January 2021: P9,000 for electoral board chairpersons; P8,000 for EB members; P7,000 for DepEd supervisors; and P5,000 for support staff.

The Comelec approved P7,000 for electoral board chairpersons; P6,000 for members;  P5,000 for supervisors and P3,000 for support staff.

The chairperson and members of electoral boards and their respective staff are also entitled to P2,000 travel allowance.

The DepEd also requested health insurance coverage for those who will be infected with the virus. Other benefits such as on-site swab testing and tax exemption, among others will be studied by the commission.

All those who will render poll duty will get a minimum of five days of service credits.

If a poll worker dies due to election-related risk, he or she will be entitled to death benefits amounting to P500,000. Those who will suffer election-related injury or illness are eligible for medical assistance amounting to P200,000.