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Mayen Jaymalin - The Philippine Star
May 9, 2025 | 12:00am
Comelec defends accuracy of ACMs Teachers serving as members of the board of election inspectors lead the final testing and sealing of automated counting machines in Mandaue City, Cebu yesterday.
THE FREEMAN
MANILA, Philippines — Threats are not the reason why some teachers have backed out from poll duties, according to the Commission on Elections.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said 30 teachers from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao backed out due to health reasons or because some of them are related to candidates in the BARMM.
The teachers will be replaced by police in performing poll duties.
He said local Comelec offices are requesting teachers to declare by today if they would not be able to perform poll duties so that Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel can be immediately deployed to replace them.
The poll chief noted that 9,000 PNP personnel have been trained and are ready to serve in poll duties on Monday.
Garcia also belied circulating reports that Comelec is hiring poll watchers with a salary of P4,000, stressing that the poll body has only deputized teachers as Electoral Board members.
Areas under Comelec control
Garcia said the poll body has received requests to place several areas such as Rizal in Cagayan province and the entire Abra under direct Comelec control.
However, the Comelec Committee on Security Concerns is still studying the recommendation.
Only two areas nationwide have been declared under Comelec control, while 36 are under the Red Category.
He said the Comelec is not inclined to upgrade the category of a certain area based on a minor violent incident.
Wage hike for teachers
With elections just days away, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) is challenging senatorial candidates to publicly back a P15,000 across-the-board salary hike for public school teachers and other Department of Education personnel.
TDC national chairman Benjo Basas emphasized that the adjustment is a long-overdue response to years of undercompensation, excessive workloads and deteriorating conditions in public schools.
“For many years, teachers have been underpaid, underappreciated, and overburdened with both teaching and administrative tasks. The P15,000 increase is a necessary correction to this injustice,” Basas said.
He criticized the 2025 national budget, arguing that it once again sidelines education.
TDC called on candidates to go beyond vague promises and demonstrate concrete support. – Neil Jayson Servallos
