Aprubado para sa mga guro ang ipinasa sa Senado na Election Service Reform Act, na hindi na compulsory ang pagsisilbi nila sa halalan.

“Under the existing laws, teachers are compelled to work as election inspectors and a mere refusal may constitute an election offense,” pahayag ni Benjo Basas, chairperson ng Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC).

“Thus, we are thankful that this bill, which we are pushing since we were established in 2006 has reached this far and I believe it will soon be enacted into law because the House gave its similar affirmation last year.

“We acknowledge this measure because at the moment, we cannot refuse the assignment to sit as election workers, even if this task may expose us to harm, even death. We cannot negotiate with the Comelec on the amount they want us to be paid. We can never demand for a lawyer to defend us when we are in trouble,” dagdag ni Basas, high school teacher sa Caloocan City at nominee ng Ating Guro Party-list.

Base sa Senate Bill 2178, itataas din ang sahod ng Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) chairman sa P6,000 mula sa P3,000; P5,000 mula sa P3,000 sa BEI member; habang P4,000 mula sa P3,000 ang para sa Department of Education supervisor; at P2,000 mula P1,500 sa support staff.

Tatanggap din ng travel allowance na P1,000 ang guro at taong nagsilbi sa eleksiyon.

Hindi pa epektibo ang naturang batas sa eleksiyon sa Mayo 9. (Mac Cabreros)