The Comelec assured that the money is now avalaible for claiming.

“I would like to clarify the money is available. The money is there. The money has been released. The problem is really just withdrawing it from the sources,” James Jimenez, Comelec spokesman said in an interview minutes before he met with members of the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Some 20 officers and members of the TDC, a 30,000-strong group, met with Comelec officials in Intramuros, Manila.

TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas said the delay in payment was not their sole complaint.

“What’s more important is the dignity that we must possess as teachers and we believe the government failed to protect this dignity,” Basas said.

Basas, who sat as BET member in Caloocan City, said that it would be some sort of relief if the Comelec could provide the teachers a just and swift compensation.

“But unfortunately, the very minimal payment was again delayed,” he said. The pay for teachers who served as BETs was reduced to P2,000 from P2,500 during the 2007 Barangay and SK Elections.

Based on the initial monitoring of TDC as of Monday, Nov. 1, only 27 out of 91 localities have reported the payment of the honorarium for teachers.

This is despite the agreement between Comelec and the Department of Education (DepEd) that “half of the payment will be released to teachers once they get the election materials and the other half upon the retrieval of ballot boxes.”

Basas said that the elections would not have pushed through without the teachers.

“That’s how important teachers are yet the government treated us this way,” he said.

He said that teachers took the brunt of public complaints on the Comelec’s shortcomings during elections, like the delay in the delivery of materials, missing names of voters, absence of the book of voters, re-clustering of precincts.

Reports from TDC also showed that teachers remained unpaid for the SK registration for the 2007 Barangay and SK elections.

“In some localities, teachers are still waiting for the P500 additional compensation for the May 2010 national and local elections,” he added.

According to TDC, teachers in the following areas have yet to receive payment: Aborlan, Palawan; Alcala, Pangasinan; Aurora, Bacarra, Ilocos Norte; Bataan, Benguet, Bocaue, Bulacan; Borobo, Surigao Del Sur; Bukidnon, Butuan City, Calinog, Iloilo; Caloocan, Capiz, Cebu City, Compostela Valley, Cotabato City; Dingalan, Aurora; Dipolog City, Donsol, Sorsogon; Dumangas, Iloilo, Gen. Santos City, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; Iligan City, Irosin, Sorsogon; Isabela, Kidapawan City, Koronadal City, Las Pinas, Libon, Albay; Los Baños, Laguna; Malabon, Malaybalay City, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Mariveles, Bataan; Mindoro Oriental, Navotas, Ormoc City, Pagadian City, Pampanga, Paranque, Pasig, Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur, Ragay, Isabela; San Carlos City, Pangasinan; San Juan City, Sibulan, Negros Oriental; Sipocot, Camarines Sur; South Cotabato, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna; Sta. Cruz, Zambales; Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte; Taguig City, Tagum City, Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur.

Affected teachers in the National Capital Region (NCR) may claim their money at the cash division of Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila, Jimenez said. The Comelec, however, is still looking for a way on how to send the money to teachers outside NCR.

Basas said that the release of funds varies per municipality or city. “However, some teachers reported the situation in the whole province like in Leyte, Pampanga and Benguet,” he said.

Meanwhile, only teachers who served as Board of Barangay Inspectors in Aklan, Angat, Bulacan; Bislig City, Bohol, Calabanga, Camarines Sur; Carcar, Cebu; Catanduanes, Cauayan, Negros Occidental; Cordova, Cebu; Dinalupihan, Bataan; Hinatuan, Surigao Sur, Island Garden City of Samal; Leyte, Libmanan, Camarines Sur; Makati, Manila, Mayantoc, Tarlac; Panabo City, Quezon City, San Mateo, Isabela; Sto. Tomas, Isabela, Surallah, South Cotabato; Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; Talacogon, Agusan del Sur; Trento, Agusan Del Sur; Valenzuela City, and Victoria, Tarlac have received payment.

“There’s no news for the payment of the Barangay Board of Canvassers (BBOC),” said Basas.

TDC also appealed to the government to relieve them the burden of compulsory poll duties and challenge the legislature to amend the law to make it optional.

“The government has no capacity to justly compensate us and to protect us during elections, thus, it has no right to compel us to serve as poll workers.” Basas said.

For the 2013 elections, TDC said they will continue to push for the enactment of optional poll duties of public school teachers.

“However, if we fail to convince the legislature, we will call on their colleagues to refuse this duty in the future,” Basas said.

Ina Hernando-Malipot & Leslie Ann Aquino, Manila Bulletin