Win or lose, file your SOCE -- COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections reminds candidates for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections to file their statements of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE) not later than June 13, 2018, or risk being perpetually disqualified to hold public office.

AFP ready to secure Monday's village & youth polls

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP ) is more than ready to secure Monday's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKEs).

Politicians, poll bets have no say on 4Ps--DSWD

CAGAYAN de Oro City - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-10 (DSWD-10) reminded the public that election candidates, even incumbent elected officials, cannot enroll or remove beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Director Nestor Ramos

In a statement Friday, DSWD-10 Regional Director Nestor Ramos said only the agency has the authority to include or delist families from 4Ps, one of the government's poverty alleviation programs.


Ramos said the 4Ps is a poverty-reduction initiative of the national government and is being implemented with other national government agencies in coordination with non-government organizations and civil society groups.

He said the program's implementation is monitored by a multi-stakeholder group and as such, no political personalities have a say on its operations and policies.

The regional director has also assured the 4Ps beneficiaries that they can vote during the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections without fear of being delisted from the program, no matter who they voted for.

Ramos added the DSWD is no longer enrolling families to the program since it has already conducted its second round of household assessment last 2015 the "Listahan," the national household targeting system of the national government that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

"We have already finalized our list of beneficiaries for the 4Ps, and we are now making sure that these families are benefiting from the Program through their children's education and health," he said.

Should there be families who are not included in the 4Ps but no need assistance from DSWD, Ramos said the agency has other social protection programs that can cater to their needs such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), social pension, Assistance for individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), among others.

"We would be happy to assist them provided that they fall under the qualifications of the programs we have," he said.

To date, there are 268,503 active 4Ps beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao, the DSWD-10 said.

Among the provinces in the region, Bukidnon has the most number of 4Ps members with 86,853, followed by Misamis Oriental with 72,576; Lanao del Norte, 68,538; Misamis Occidental, 34,764; and Camiguin, 5,772.  [Jigger J. Jerusalem, PNA]

Poll Workers' Honoraria Ready for Release on Election Day - COMELEC

INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections assures poll workers who will render service in the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections that they will be paid the full sum of their compensation upon the completion of their election duties on May 14, 2018.

According to the COMELEC Finance Service Department, the honoraria and travel allowances will be paid either in cash or through the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) cash card.  

For certain priority areas, poll workers will be paid in cash.  In other places, they will receive their compensation through DBP cash cards.  The payment of their compensation will be made by the Election Officers of their respective localities.


As per R.A. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act, the following poll workers are entitled to the corresponding honoraria: Chairperson of the Electoral Boards, PhP 6,000; Members of the Electoral Boards, PhP 5,000; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO), PhP 4,000; and Support Staff, PhP 2,000.  Additionally, they are entitled to a travel allowance of PhP 1,000 each.

Pursuant to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Ruling No. 003-08 dated April 14, 2018, honoraria and travel allowances are subject to 5% withholding tax. [Education and Information Department, COMELEC]

No automatic disqualification for bets on drug list - COMELEC

James Jimenez

INTRAMUROS, Manila - Having a candidate's name included in the drug watchlist of the government would not automatically disqualify or bar him from running in an election, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) clarified on Friday.

COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez explained that only a final judgment on the alleged crime - a court conviction - would disqualify a candidate's bid for public office, apart from other factors of disqualification.

"Having your name on the list of drug suspects or people suspected to be involved in the drug trade will not really have an effect on what the COMELEC does," Jimenez said in a press briefing.

"Being on [a] drug list will not disqualify a person from running for office.  Disqualification only comes from a final judgment against the person, apart from other reasons for disqualification," the polling body official said. [Julius N. Leonen, Inquirer.net]