Poll service honoraria 98% settled, says Comelec

ELEVEN days after the May 12 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has nearly completed the distribution of honoraria for those who served on Election Day.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in an interview on Friday, May 23, 2025, that 98 percent of the honoraria for members of the Electoral Boards (EBs) have already been paid.

“As of yesterday, we have already distributed 98.4 percent of the honoraria,” said Garcia.

“We expect to have them completed by today for the whole country,” he added.

He said, however, that the payment does not include the additional P1,000 honoraria granted to EB members after the May 12 polls.

“That will have to come a little later since it wasn’t among those disbursed,” said Garcia.

Nevertheless, the poll chief stressed that the expected completion of payment is way ahead of the deadline set by the law.

“It is provided in the law that we must be able to give the honoraria not beyond 15 days after the elections,” said Garcia.

Under the Election Service Reform Act, there is a prescribed period of 15 days from the date of election for the payment of the honoraria and allowances due persons rendering election service.

To note, the honoraria rates for electoral board chairperson was earlier set at P12,000, while the poll clerk and third member will be getting P11,000.

After Election Day, the Comelec requested an additional P1,000 to be given to poll workers.

Malacañang subsequently approved the P1,000 additional compensation. (Anton Banal/SunStar Philippines)