About 250,000 public school teachers sit as chairmen or member of the board election inspectors when Filipinos elect their president, vice president, senators, and members of Congress, governors, mayors and councilors.
Taking part in upholding the right of the Filipino to suffrage is not that Simple for these teachers. After tirelessly working for the preparation, conduct and counting of votes of the elections, teachers receive insufficient compensation for their service. This is further aggravated by the delay in the release of their honoraria, even taking months.
Teachers are also exposed to high security risks as they perform their election duties, having alarming instances of harassment, violence and death, especially in election hotspot areas. According to a national paper, there were five casualties among the teachers in the 2010 elections.
Moreover, about a hundred teachers end up getting charged before Comelec by losing candidates. These candidates contest the results as they complain about the teachers’ conduct of the elections.
In addition, their mandatory duties have prevented the teachers from voting because most of them are assigned in precincts that they are not registered as voters.
It is essential that assistance be provided to the teachers who have selflessly performed this important task every election year, even as they have developed a moral responsibility for doing it.
The BEl reform bill has had earlier versions in the past Congresses. HB 4096 promoted the voluntary election services and HB 6528 promoted an insurance package for BEl members. This bill aims to integrate the provisions of the two earlier versions into a comprehensive package of reform policy.
The bill attends to the key problems of the BEl members; they are to receive a minimum honoraria, insurance, equitable legal package commensurate of their service, and voting privileges.
The proposed amendment also gives the teachers the liberty to choose whether or not to serve in the elections. This allows them to protect themselves from political pressures and consider their personal welfare.
As teacher training and election operations are straining for the Department of Education’s resources, the rich reservoir of civic volunteers can be tapped as alternative source of manpower for BEl members and poll staff.
Due to their experience in election monitoring the past elections, they have the competence and integrity operating the polls. The government then allows its citizens to further participate in the ensuring the legitimacy of the election process.
The proposed amendment builds on the recognition of its teachers as they play an important role in the conduct of the democratic processes of the Filipinos and extends the space where citizens can actively participate in the reform of institutions.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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