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The
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on
Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of
agreement (MOA) to ensure the smooth conduct of Monday’s
Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
Half a
million public-school teachers who will render poll
duties on October 29 will be given benefits including
P3,000 honorarium, P500 transportation allowance and
P30-million insurance coverage, the MOA provided.
Acting
Comelec Chairman Resurreccion Borra disclosed that the
Comelec only has P2.1 billion for the Barangay and SK
election as compared with the actual budgetary
requirement of P4.9.billion.
Borra
vowed to teachers that the Comelec and the DepEd will
work doubly hard and use their “persuasive powers” to
convince the Department of Budget and Management to
allocate funds for the balance to ensure payment for
teachers.
On the
security preparations, Borra said the Comelec has tapped
the Armed Forces and the National Police to ensure peace
and order during election and for the rest of the
election period.
Aside
from Borra, Comelec director Eduarto Mejos, as well as
DepEd Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Franklin Sunga
and Undersecretary for Operations Ramon Bacani, signed
the MOA.
Sunga
said the teachers are ready for the electoral exercise,
claiming that they have all undergone enough training
and preparation that have been conducted in connection
with the May 14 elections.
“Our
topmost priority at the Department of Education is the
safety and well-being of the teachers,” Sunga said.
DepEd is mainly in charge of providing the manpower
needed for the conduct of the elections.
It is
also in charge of responding to the various concerns of
teachers manning the poll precincts.
Comelec,
on the other hand, is responsible for enforcing and
administering all election laws and regulations.
“Teachers will again play a critical role in elections,”
Bacani said, adding that, “we therefore recognize the
need to provide them with the capability to perform
their electoral duties well. |
