Teachers earn Cavite special poll bonus

Teachers serving as poll workers in the 29 August special election in Cavite’s Fourth Legislative District will receive honoraria of up to P12,000, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Saturday.

Under Comelec Resolution 11257, electoral board chairpersons will receive P12,000, while EB members will get P11,000. EB support staff will receive P5,000.

The poll body said the compensation already includes honoraria, travel, communication and meal allowances. It added that payments will be released within 15 calendar days after the special election.

EB chairpersons and members will also receive a fixed 10-day service credit.

The special election will cover 1,308 clustered precincts, each to be manned by an electoral board composed of a chairperson, a poll clerk and a third member.

Comelec said the Dasmariñas City government donated P50 million to help fund the more than P76 million budget for poll workers’ honoraria.

The special election was called to fill the vacancy in the Fourth District congressional seat after Francisco Barzaga Jr. was removed from office in June for disorderly behavior, conduct unbecoming of a member, and violations of the House Code of Conduct.

Five candidates are vying for the post: Raul Rex Mangubat, Marvin Dupal-ag, Leysander Ordenes, Jacinto Frani Jr. and Dasmariñas Mayor Jennifer Barzaga, mother of the expelled lawmaker.

Mayor Barzaga is serving her third and final term as mayor. She previously served three consecutive terms from 2007 to 2016 before representing the district in the House from 2016 to 2019, a seat also once held by her late husband, Elpidio Barzaga Sr.