EDUCATION Secretary Sara Duterte yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to shoulder the operating expenses of public schools during the holding of electoral exercises.
Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the Comelec and the Public Attorneys Office (PAO), Duterte said she is hopeful that the expenses of schools during elections will no longer be charged to the budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Part of my wish list is on how to have no more expenses for the use of electricity and water in our schools during the elections. As of now, it is being charged to our MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) despite not being part of our mandate,” said Duterte.
The Comelec uses public schools nationwide as voting centers during elections, while classrooms serve as polling precincts.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body was caught by surprise by Duterte’s request.
He, however, agreed that such expenditures shouldn’t be charged to the DepEd since the elections is not their activity.
“Of course, this is really not the activity of the DepEd, but of the Comelec. Therefore, it should be charged to the budget of the elections. All along, I thought it is for free. I just learned it is being charged to DepEd. That is really unfair,” said Garcia.
The poll chief said one solution they are looking at is to include such a provision in their proposed amendments to the Omnibus Election Code to Congress.
“Probably, we can include such an item in the elections appropriation so that it is already provided in the law,” he said.
Garcia, however, admitted that such changes in the system may not be adopted in time for the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
But while financial assistance to school expenses may not come in time for the October 30 polls, the Comelec said they want to ensure legal aid to teachers serving during elections.
Garcia said this is the reason why they entered into a MOA with PAO and DepEd for the coming poll exercise.
“The teachers are so vulnerable (to charges). That’s why the legal assistance is the best defense against these kinds of attacks against them,” he said.
Garcia said the Comelec normally receives numerous election offense or administrative complaints against teachers serving as members of the Electoral Boards.
The former election lawyer said such cases are additional burden to teachers as they will need to either answer the charges themselves or hire a legal counsel to help them.
“The hesitation comes on whether they will be able to answer the charges correctly or file the necessary documents completely. It really makes a difference having the guidance of a lawyer, especially if it’s for free,” said Garcia.
