LAGAWE, Ifugao (Nov. 23) — Ifugao public school teachers who served during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections complained of the reduction of their honorarium.

The teachers said they received P1,000 instead of the promised P2,000 for their services during the elections as members of the Board of Election Tellers (BETs). The did not also receive their honorarium for their service in handling the extended registration applications of the SK members.

The teachers blamed the Commission on Election (Comelec).

Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) Ricardo Bulintao, however, placed the blame on the Comelec national office. He said the national office issued Resolution 8321 decreasing the teachers’ honorarium.

“The problem arose when Comelec informed members of the BETs in an orientation meeting that they would receive a maximum honorarium of P2,000. Comelec main office, however, issued a resolution to the provincial office decreasing the amount to P1,000 and an additional P500 for members of the Board of Canvassers,” Bulintao explained.

Bulintao further said the resolution came very late giving the provincial office no time to inform the members of the BETs on their reduced honorarium. # Dan B. Codamon/PIA Ifugao