THE TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition thanked the Department of Education and the Commission on Elections for recognizing the legitimacy of its call for the payment of overtime pay for teachers and employees who performed electoral duties beyond prescribed working hours in the recently concluded elections.

“Salamat po sa DepEd at sa Comelec sa pagkilala ng aming kahilingan,” Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson, said.

Last Thursday, May 12, Basas sent letters to Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan requesting the immediate processing of overtime pay and Education Secretary Leonor Briones to support their request.

“The honoraria for poll workers were previously stated as per diem and computed at 3 days or 24 hours of non-stop work (especially in manual elections). However, many of our teachers have worked beyond 24 hours and are thus, entitled to overtime pay,” Basas said in his letter.

The TDC also asked the DepEd for “a consolidated data of the possible number of personnel who may be entitled to such benefit under our Magna Carta for Teachers.”

Last Saturday, the DepEd said it recommended the payment of additional compensation amounting to P3,000 to the members of the electoral board who extended their duties due to faulty SD cards and vote-counting machines.

On Monday, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said that the overtime pay proposal has been approved by the en banc. However, the commission has yet to reveal the amount.

“This is now approved in principle. Ang kailangan na lamang dito ay mga detalye. We need the data from the DepEd as to the number of teachers and employees who are entitled to said payment,” Basas added.

The TDC agreed to DepEd’s proposal of P3,000 across-the-board payment for uniformity and ease.

“Yung P3,000 na proposal ng DepEd sa tingin namin ay fair na para sa lahat. We hope the Comelec will consider that amount with finality,” Basas said.