LAGAWE, IFUGAO – – Dedicated teachers from public schools in the capital town of Lagawe are manning the all-important Board of Election Tellers for the synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.
Tapped for election services are teachers of 17 public elementary schools in this town with 20 villages.
As in previous polls, attention is focused on the conduct of the elections at Lagawe Central School, largest public elementary school in Ifugao. Voters in the town proper are casting their ballots here. Polling precincts for voters of Poblacion East, Poblacion North, Poblacion South and Poblacion West are located here.
By 6 p.m. – at the earliest, a winner for the Punong Barangay of a village in the main Poblacion area has been known. Conversely, there is a loser or losers (if there are at least three contenders for the said position). Proclamation of winners takes place shortly.
Choosing the real winner in this electoral exercise at the grassroots level? Who else: but, a teacher.
However, even by 7 a.m.- when the poll exercises officially opens, the teachers are already winners. There are simply no losers among their ranks. No need to proclaim them as such.
With the 2019 mid-term local and national elections coming up, all-out activities and preparations of poll teachers are more likely to see greater improvement, as local and national officials start flexing their muscles.
According to Lagawe election officer Atty. Annivest Hangdaan, 111 teachers are serving in various capacities under the Board of Election Tellers.
Appointed chairpersons are Florence Maquera, Agnes Magyano, Juliet Pugong, Corazon Nayahangan, Wilson Towanna, Mary Ann Dangayo, Rochelle Mamgue, Isabel Butic, Jovelyn Dinamling, Carina Mae Gapad, Gladys Marie Tobiagon, Jennifer Taguiling, Miltrudes Dango and Annabelle Gallman, all at Lagawe Central School.
Yvonne Hampuy at Abinuan Elementary School; Gerry Dangayo at Banga Elementary School; Linda Binwag, Mary Ann Kitong and Angela Cabbigat at Boliwong Elementary School; Ernesto Pugong and Colin Atma at Burnay Elementary School; Notherlou Baloc at Buyabuyan Elementary School; Allan Cablinan, Marcelin Cattoyog, Caba Elementary School; Glory Habbiling, Mary Dumangeng and Janet Kikigue at Cudog Elementary School; Marina Galangi at Dulao Elementary School; Rudy Allaga at Jucbong Elementary School; Mae Cecilia Patnaan at Luta Elementary School; Linda Nipahoy at Montabiong Elementary School; Rolando Pahalon at Olilicon Elementary School; Geraldone Bahatan at Ponghal Elementary School; Beverly Lim-ang at Pullaan Elementary; Janet Augusto and Agnes Emma Tayaban at Tungngod Elementary School; and Felisa Bulahao at Tupaya Elementary School.
Poll clerks include Joeharry Alindayo, Elsa Agustin, Olive Eheng, Yolanda Pugong, Delleah Tagayo, Wilfreda Cabbigat, Lourdes Haya, Milagros Dominong, Beatriz Gulguluway, Glen Tayaban, Damiano Mayam-o Jr., Nelson Gano, Alma Tayaban and Jehmariza Buhong, alsp all at Lagawe Central School.
Analyn Balaquit at Abinuan Elementary School; Teresita Wigan at Banga Elementary School; Maribel Daulayan, Shirley Bruno and Flordelina Binwag at Boliwong Elementary School; Noreen Barreras and Judith Gohaad at Burnay Elementary School; Teresita Guinyang at Buyabuyan Elementary School; Daisy Butticon and Cherry Bidhong at Caba Elementary School; Delia Dango, Natividad Bahiwag and Joe Michael Catti at Cudog Elementary School; Rodrigo Hoggang at Dulao Elementary School; Cecilia Dangpahon at Jucbong Elementary School; Irene Dugyon at Luta Elementary School; Benita Nabanalan, Montabiong Elementary School; Marialyn Madchiw, Olilicon Elementary School; Joan Bumahit, Ponghal Elementary School; Mary Jane Timmango at Pullaan Elementary School; Corazon Alindayo and Flordeliza Miguel at Tungngod Elementary School at Rosalina Hunnob at Tupaya Elementary School.
Members are Janssen Mae Cabbigat, Natividad Carolino, Rose Marie Buhong, Mae Marie Lunag, Delia Marie Ali, Irene Gahid, Rosita Galotia, Claire Kinakin, Eddie Bart Paco, Shearyl Pagaddut, Jennifer Bulayungan, Janelyn Bunoy, Alice Tuguinay and Margarita Javier, likewise all at Lagawe Central School.
Sonia Castillano at Abinuan Elementary School; Cheryl Ambojnon at Banga Elementary School; Rosemarie Serrano , Adora Galap and Juliet Dangayo at Boliwong Elementary School’ Florinda Boboban and Michelle Dulnuan at Burnay Elementary School; Grace Dominong at Buyabuyan Elementary School; Donadel Mangili and Mary Jane Cablinan at Caba Elementary School; Corazon Pablo, Rachel Tultog and Merita Kimayong at Cudog ElementarySchool; Gemma Buccahan at Dulao Elementary School; Junelyn Gad-icon at Jucbong Elementary School and Rachelle Duhalngon at Luta Elementary School.
The honorarium of a poll teller is Php 6,000 (Php 6,000 plus Php 1,000 for transportation to the chairman), with a 5% tax deduction. There are 37 polling precincts in Lagawe. The town has 10,739 voters.
There are 305 candidates for Lagawe’s 20 barangay councils. The youth councils attracted 73 aspirants.
Ideal poll service conditions for teachers are anchored on doing well for them during and after election time. Providing them legal assistance is a positive impact that can contribute to their well-being. It creates long-term value for cash-strapped teachers in case of problems. Through poll service, teachers build the foundation necessary to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
Latest data showed that across the 20 villages of Lagawe, monitored by this scribe, still a few young teachers have an inclination to serve at the Board of Tellers.
In a practical sense, what happens if Board of Tellers slots continue to be a stranglehold of older segment of teachers and no modifications are pursued to give way to younger generations?
It may well be a gauge of the study of polls next year by analysts, based on a review of official figures culled from a large representative selection of towns in Ifugao in this year’s barangay and SK elections.
As the Philippines holds the historic village and youth elections after two postponements, let the calls on providing adequate protection to teachers to be a wake-up call to the officialdom that a lot more still needs to be done to safeguard their welfare. Only when they’ve leaped through their difficulties can Filipinos say that they have elevated the status of mentors during election time.
Three years back, with threats lurking on their heads thousands of teachers sought for exempting them from serving during electoral exercises.
Extending legal assistance provides an ideal opportunity to offer the support and advice proven to help them if necessary. These interventions work so the government must act quickly to institutionalize these much-needed, simple interventions that save time, money and most importantly, lives.
Will Congress agree to pass a measure to shield those predisposed to harassment and intimidation by losing moneyed politicians who are charging poll teachers of fraud even if they have not actually done anything wrong?
In a related development, teachers in Lagawe as well as in Aguinaldo, Asipulo, Banaue, Kiangan, Hungduan and Mayoyao are urging the government to scrap the 5% tax deduction imposed on their honoraria during elections. They warned the imposition of the tax may further discourage others to take poll service duties, a move that will be the “major hindrance” of the biggest driver of the nation’s work force.
The latest tax scheme means poll teachers will have to shell out 5 percent of their paychecks. To illustrate, a poll teacher with a Php 6,000 honorarium will have to bring home Php 5,700 instead of Php 6,000. The amount of Php 300 is good enough to buy six kilos of Sinandomeng rice at Php 44 a kilo. Teachers, the most number of workers by profession in the country, have been affected by price increases of basic commodities brought about by the TRAIN (Tax Reform, Acceleration and Inclusion) law. **By Anthony A. Araos
