Sorsogon Governor Chiz Escudero is urging Congress to raise by at least Php10,000 the compensation teachers who will be doing poll duties in next year’s national elections amid the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
In a statement posted on his Twitter account (@saychiz), the veteran legislator said increasing the honoraria of teachers who will serve as electoral board and poll watchers in the upcoming 2022 national and local elections is well-deserved “for putting their lives on the line.”
“Congress should consider increasing the compensation for teachers who perform election duties to Php10,000. They are crucial in preserving our democracy and in ensuring clean/honest/peaceful elections. They are literally putting their lives on the line. It’s the least we can do for them,” Escudero tweeted.
Congress is currently conducting public hearings on the proposed Php5.024 trillion spending plan for 2022, the last and final budget under the Duterte administration. According to the Department of Budget of Management, 29 percent or about Php1.456 trillion will cover expenses for personnel services, as it planned to hire more health workers and teaching personnel, among others.
Based on the agreement of the Department of Education and the Commission on Elections teachers who will perform election duties will each receive Php3,000 in additional allowance.
Escudero, however, said that raising Php10,000 the teachers’ honoraria is still possible.
“It’s only once every three years and, surely, we can afford it! At the end of the day, what price tag can you put for preserving our electoral processes and upholding our democratic ideals and principles as a country and as a people?” pointed out Escudero.
As the governor issued his call to Congress, he also paid tribute today to the country’s teachers on the occasion of the United Nations’ World Teachers’ Day and the country’s observance of the National Teachers’ Day.
“Tayo po ay nagpupugay at sumasaludo sa ating mga guro sa kanilang mga sakripisyo at pagmamahal na patuloy na ibinibigay sa ating mga estudyante. Next to our parents and our family, they were among the first to influence and mold us into what we are today,” Escudero said in a statement.
He urged the citizenry to pray for the teachers who continue to give their best in ensuring that their students still get the best education during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a former professor himself who were raised by both educator parents, Escudero vowed to continue advocating for the teachers to ease their burdens.
“Kaya naman po sa abot ng ating makakaya as a public servant, patuloy tayong gagawa ng paraan upang matulungan ang ating mga minamahal na guro,” Escudero stressed.
The former senator said that aside from his Php10,000 increase in teachers’ compensation for election duties, he also fully supports the provision of bigger salaries and additional benefits for all teachers.
“At sa lahat ng ating mga guro, kaisa ninyo ako sa mithiing pagpapalawak pa ng inyong mga benepisyo katulad ng overtime pay, bigger salaries, at pagbibigay ng iba pang suporta para makatulong sa ating online classes katulad ng laptop at internet loads,” Escudero added.