(Eagle News)–Senator Bam Aquino has said teachers who will serve in the May 2019 elections should get the pay they deserve even if there was a reenacted budget for this year.
Aquino made the statement after the Commission on Elections warned these teachers would not receive their honoraria in such a scenario, and amid talks of a re-enacted budget following a deadlock between the House of Representatives and the Senate.
According to Aquino, should this be the case, Congress can pass a supplemental budget for the payment of the teachers’ honorarium.
“Gagawin natin ang lahat para masigurong mababayaran ang ating mga guro sa kanilang trabaho sa darating na halalan. Biyan natin sila ng karampatang pagkilala at huwag ibitin ang mga kompensasyon at benepisyong itinakda ng batas para sa kanila,” said Aquino.
Aquino said if the pay was not given to the teachers, “sayang naman ang batas na ating isinulong kung hindi mapakikinabangan ng mga guro.
He was referring to Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA), which increases the pay and other election service benefits for public school teachers, including board of election inspectors and their support staff.
Under the law, compensation for the BEI chairman is to P6,000 from the current P3,000 while BEI members will receive P5,000 from the current P3,000.
From P3,000, the Department of Education supervisor or official will get P4,000 while support staff will receive P2,000 from the current P1,500.
Under ESRA, all persons who rendered election service would also be entitled to a travel allowance of P1,000 each.
The ESRA also increases the death benefits from P200,000 to P500,000 and the medical assistance as needed to allow for the recovery of a person who sustained injuries while rendering election-related service.
“Dapat bigyang halaga ang pagsisikap at paghihirap ng mga teacher sa halalan. Sa totoo lang po, sila ang tunay na bayani ng darating na eleksyon,” Aquino said.
