Members of the Electoral Boards (EBs) who served during the May 12 midterm elections will receive an additional PHP1,000 honorarium, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said he formally requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to grant the extra, tax-free compensation to recognize the dedication of the 758,549 poll workers who served.
“We are appealing for an increase in the honoraria of our Election Day workers — a modest PHP1,000 additional compensation, tax free or net of tax, for each of the 758,549 individuals, who selflessly serve our nation during every electoral exercise,” Garcia wrote in a letter to the DBM.
“A thousand pesos may not seem much, but, for them, it is a tangible recognition of their unmatched dedication. It is a gesture of a grateful nation,” he added.
The DBM endorsed the release of PHP758,459,000 for the additional compensation, which was promptly approved by the Office of the President. Garcia thanked both agencies for their swift action on Comelec’s request.
Earlier, Comelec had already increased the honoraria of electoral board members: from PHP10,000 to PHP12,000 for EB chairpersons, and from PHP9,000 to PHP11,000 for poll clerks and third board members.