While teachers who serve during the elections are given an extra allowance for their efforts, many of them actually have to sacrifice a lot just to transport the ballots and the vote counting machines to far-flung areas they serve. Many even have to guard the ballots with the lives, especially in election ‘hot spots’.
Photo credit: Renan Naldoza Nacor / Apple Oquendo – Facebook
Many are calling for additional allowance for those who risk their lives just to ensure that election materials reach the far-flung areas.
Photo credit: Renan Naldoza Nacor / Apple Oquendo – Facebook
Renan Naldoza Nacor, Head Teacher 1 at Deped Libacao in Libacao, Aklan, took some photos of the trip they had to take just to take a vote counting machine and other election materials to Taroytoy Elementary School in the District of Libacao, Division of Aklan, Region VI-Western Visayas.
Photo credit: Renan Naldoza Nacor / Apple Oquendo – Facebook
The photos were shared on Facebook by. In the post, Oquendo revealed that the teachers were escorted by the police as they brought the election materials to their post, and back again. But the trip to the area was long and difficult. They started out at 9AM and were only able to reach the school at 5PM!
Photo credit: Renan Naldoza Nacor / Apple Oquendo – Facebook
In a comment on the post, Nacor explained that they do have allowance for serving in the elections but they used that money to pay for the hauling of the materials since it was not easy to bring the heavy machine up the mountain, then down again. He added that their chairman even had to add more payment because there were other expenses that they had to spend for along the way.
Photo credit: Renan Naldoza Nacor / Apple Oquendo – Facebook
But Nacor and his group are certainly not the only ones who had to experience this during election time. Many teachers surely go through a similar difficulty in bringing the ballots and vote counting machines to other hinter barangays. Netizens are hoping something can be done regarding such situations in future elections.