Comelec to tap 400,000 teachers for 2010

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday that it will be tapping 400,000 teachers to serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) in the 2010 automated elections. In an interview with GMANews.TV, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said that unlike during the 2007 elections, this time the number of BEIs will be reduced to less than half of the usual 900,000 because of automation and the clustering of precincts. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said there will be about 72,000 precincts, but the total number can still change depending on the number of voters approved. “The cleansing is ongoing," he said. Larrazabal said that for every five clustered precincts, there will be seven BEIs. There will be only one Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine for seven precincts, which will cover an average of almost 1,000 voters expected to vote on election day. Meanwhile, the commissioner said they have yet to discuss with the Department of Education (DepEd) about the teachers’ pay rates for election duties. “We spoke with the DepEd and we have to meet with them again. We haven’t gotten to that point yet. It’s too early to say what’s going to happen," said Larrazabal. Jimenez said there is also no decision yet on whether it will be the Comelec or the DepEd that will pay for the BEI’s services. “Iba-iba kasi eh (That’s because it varies)," he said, explaining that in one election the DepEd may foot the bill, then next election it might be the Comelec. Earlier, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo assured teachers that their work during next year’s elections will be lighter because of the automation. “Mas hindi na sila stressed out, makikita nilang ah ganun pala, madali lang pala (They won’t be stressed out that much, they’ll realize, ah, so that’s how easily it’s done)," he said. - Kimberly Jane T. Tan, GMANews.TV