Latest news with #SangguniangKabataanElections
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec urges law to institutionalize increase in teachers' honoraria
"Isa sa mga proposals ng inyong lingkod, sana magkaroon ng legislation na may automatic increase on a per election basis sa mga honoraria ng mga guro," Garcia said. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for legislation institutionalizing increases in the honoraria for teachers serving as election staff and making the benefit tax-free. At a news forum on Thursday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said that there will be no P2,000 across-the-board increase in the honoraria of teachers who will serve in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October. The said increase was implemented in the May 12 mid-term elections. Garcia said the proposed P14 billion budget of the poll body for the 2025 BSKE was reduced to P11 billion. "Isa sa mga proposals ng inyong lingkod, sana magkaroon ng legislation na may automatic increase on a per election basis sa mga honoraria ng mga guro. Ibig sabihin, 'pag nagkakaroon din tayo ng increase sa gastusin, dapat may automatic increase sa honoraria ng mga guro,' Garcia told the monthly forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters' Association (MACHRA). (One of our proposals is for the crafting of a legislation that would automatically increase the honoraria of teachers per election basis.) 'Syempre pinu-push pa rin natin ang tax exemption ng mga guro. Hindi naisakatuparan nitong 2025 national and local elections. Sana magkaroon ng tax exemption sa BSKE and such other benefits. Susuportahan po natin yun," he said. (We're also pushing for the tax exemption of teachers. This did not happen in the 2025 NLE but we are hoping it would be implemented in the BSKE.) Teachers who served as poll workers in the recent elections received additional P2,000 honoraria. This gives ERB members with P10,000 and chairpersons with P12,000 but still subject to tax. According to Garcia, the Comelec will urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for additional honoraria, similar to the P1,000 increase granted to teachers for the 2025 May elections. 'Kahit hindi mismo sinasabi ng mga guro, nararapat lang yun,' Garcia added. (They may not say anything but teachers deserve that.) In September 2024, the Comelec said the budget cuts in their proposed 2025 funding will impact the preparations for the 2025 elections including the BSKE. It would likewise affect the voter education for the polls. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec hopes for automated barangay, SK polls in future
Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday that he is hoping for the passage of a law that would allow the conduct of an automated or hybrid method of voting in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the future. 'Sana magkaroon ng batas na para isama o yung ninanais ng iba na magkaroon ng tinatawag na hybrid — may manual na, mayroon pang automated. Susuporta kami sa ganoon. Una, hindi naman ganoon karami ang iboboto sa barangay…so hindi ganoon kahaba yung babasahin katulad ng sa national at local elections,' said Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview. (I hope there will be a law to include it or what some are wishing for, which is hybrid voting — there is manual and there is automated elections at the same time. We will support that. Because in the first place, there are only a few positions to vote for in the the canvassing of votes is not that long like in the national and local elections.) The upcoming BSKE on December 1 will be done manually, which means the public will cast their votes by writing the names of their bets for barangay captain, members of Sangguniang Barangay, and chairperson and members of SK. Garcia pointed out that having automated BSKE will not only produce faster results, but it will also safeguard electoral board members and canvassers from any threats. 'Kasi kapag mas mabilis ang resulta, hindi 'yan tumatagal nang magdamag o hanggang kinabukasan…walang violence, walang ballot box snatching, wala yung mga intimidation, threat, o kaya pagkamatay,' he added. (Because when the results are faster, it won' take overnight or until the next will be no violence, no ballot box snatching, no intimidation, threats, or even death.) Comelec conducted a pilot testing of automated BSK polls in three areas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite in 2023. Garcia said the barangays were able to proclaim the winners within an hour. However, the Comelec official said that some people still prefer writing down their votes. 'Sa bandang huli, may reason din kasi, aaminin ko kung bakit manual ang eleksyon sa ating barangay…kapag barangay gusto talaga sinusulat ng mga kababayan natin ang kanilang boto. Ayan naman, kinikilala natin ang bagay na 'yan. At siyempre mas matipid kapag manual na halalan,' said Garcia. (I must admit that there's a reason why the elections in the barangays are done manually. It's because many residents still prefer to write down their votes. And we recognize their preferences and manual elections would save us money as well.) The Comelec earlier launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the December polls. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
