Pay Teachers Honoraria in advance, says Legarda

Reelectionist Sen. Loren Legarda today called for the early, possibly advance, payment of honoraria and allowances of teachers who will be conducting election duties, further urging police personnel to ensure that these teachers be adequately protected.

“We are aware of the dangers that these dedicated teachers are facing as deputized election personnel, thus they should be sufficiently shielded from harm,” she pointed out.

Teachers and personnel who serve in the elections are to receive P4,000, with P3,000 representing their honoraria, P500 for testing and sealing of machines, and 500 for transportation allowance.

“We thank our teachers for discharging this special extra duty every election season,” she said. “Because of them, our people’s right to suffrage is fully exercised,” she added.

Legarda had earlier enjoined every Filipino to ensure that Monday’s mid-term elections are clean, orderly and peaceful.

“It is not only the Commission on Elections employees and uniformed personnel who have the duty to ensure a clean, orderly and peaceful election but everybody, from candidates to their supporters to ordinary folk,” Legarda said.

She said it is very important that the integrity of Monday’s elections is guaranteed to prevent trouble and violence and instability for the country.

“All of us have the obligation to protect the sanctity of the ballot and to make sure that the voting and counting are devoid of controversies or questions,” she said.