Solon bats for higher pay for teachers in 2007 polls

By Alliance of Volunteer Educators
November 12, 2006

QUEZON CITY, Philippines  – Give them more pay, then.

Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE) Party-list Representative Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay is asking authorities to augment the allowance of teachers who will serve as Board of Inspectors (BOI) in the 2007 Elections.

Magsaysay said that since it is inevitable that teachers will still play major roles in the next election following the limited participation imposed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the next best thing to do is effect an increase in the per diem of fellow mentors.

“Since it is still the legal mandate of public school teachers to render service during elections and we still cannot expect a full automation of polls next year,” the lawmaker said, “the next best option we see fit is for our fellow teachers to receive additional allowance.”

According to the education representative, it is only proper that teachers who will be serving for the next year’s election receive higher honorarium, insurance and hazard pay.

“Given the serious task placed upon their shoulders, teachers are entitled to more compensation,” Magsaysay said. “Aside from this, we should ensure their security while they guard our votes by providing higher insurance and hazard pay, as well.”

He said that as molders of the young inquisitive minds, teachers should fully concentrate on teaching and should not be forced to perform duties beyond their school obligations.

“But we cannot also deny the fact that given the very meager salary our teachers receive, they welcome these election duties as another means of generating additional income,” the education sector representative remarked. “This being the case, what we need to do is increase further our teachers’ pay and ensure that they receive on time the financial allowance allotted for them.”

Teachers have been the center of harassment and abuse every election since they serve as members of the BOI. In earlier statements, the party-list solon has been pushing for the full automation of election process to free fellow teachers from election duties. According to him, with the automation of polls, teachers can no longer be required to serve in election precincts but can just render voluntary work, in return. But with limited time before the 2007 National and Local Elections, full automation of polls is seen as no longer viable, thereby putting again the bulk of manual counting to the teachers.