Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said the release of payment to teachers ahead of poll duties is prohibited, but that it is looking into legal options to assist them with their expenses.
“Tandaan po natin, kasi ang general principle po sa fiscal management ng ating pamahalaan, ang bayad o honoraria, ang sahod ay ibinibigay pagkatapos po ma-i-render ang serbisyo. Wala po kasi tayong advance payment pagdating sa pamahalaan, be it goods or services po. Mahigpit po ang pagbabawal diyan,” Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in a public briefing.[Translation: Let’s remember, because the general principle in the fiscal management of our government, the fee or honoraria [or] the salary is given after the service has been rendered. We don’t have advance payment when it comes to the government, be it goods or services. There is a strict prohibition on that.]This comes after Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also Education secretary, proposed to Comelec that teachers be compensated ahead of the elections. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/3/9/Sara-Duterte-urges-Comelec-to-pay-teachers-ahead-of-polls.htmlLaudiangco said that the poll body is coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Department of Finance on alternative legal options to help teachers with their daily expenses when rendering their poll duties.“Kaya tinitingnan po namin kung maaaring transportation allowance ang ibigay. Dahil po dito, kinokunsulta po namin ang COA, ang DBP, pati po ang Department of Finance kung maaari, legal ba, at pwede naming gawin ito,” he added.[Translation: So we are looking into whether transportation allowance can be given. Because of this, we are consulting the COA, the DBM, as well as the Department of Finance if it’s possible, legal, and we can do this.]
