Good news for teachers who will serve election day duties. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced today that transportation allowances will be made available to members of the Boards of Election Tellers (BETs) serving during the October 29, 2007 synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

In a letter today to Acting COMELEC Chairman Resurreccion Z. Borra, Department of Budget Management Secretary Rolando Andaya advised the Commission that more than 400 million pesos has been authorized "to cover the transportation allowances of Board of Election Tellers (BETs) for the Synchronized SK and Barangay elections."

"The allowance will be distributed equitably to public school teachers who will once again offer their venerable services to the country as we cast our ballots on Monday" said COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez.

He said the additional transportation allowance is apart from the honoraria that will be released to the teachers who will serve either as chairmen and members of Board of Election Tellers (BET). This will be given to them upon getting the election paraphernalia from the Municipal or City Treasurers on Monday morning, Jimenez added.