DepEd wants to handle teachers' honorarium in 2010 polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said it would request to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to turn over to them the compensation for teachers who would render poll duties during next year’s elections. DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus said this is to avoid a repeat of the delay in the payment of teachers’ honorarium during the May 2007 polls. He said such delay would be avoided if the DepEd would be in charge of the payment of teachers. “We are looking on the possibility of turning over to DepEd the budget for teachers’ honorarium because some municipal or city treasurers are not pro-active,” Lapus said. The DepEd chief said absence of treasurers was among the common reasons cited for the delay in the payment of teachers’ honorarium during the 2007 elections. He however stressed that this was just a recommendation that the department is seriously considering as he acknowledged that Comelec has yet to come out with the full guidelines on the conduct of the 2010 polls. In the last elections, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) was forged between DepEd and Comelec ensuring compensation for teachers who would render poll duties. Under it, half of the payment would be given on the morning of the election day while the other half would be given later in the day. But despite the agreement, the payment, particularly the second half, was delayed, with some cases even stretching on for months. - GMANews.TV