The Kabankalan City government said payment will be released for the support staff who served in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in 2023, provided that the legal opinion from the Commission on Elections-Negros Island Region (Comelec-NIR) offers a sufficient basis.

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda said the city government is willing to allocate funds for the honoraria of the support staff.

Earlier this month, Miranda received a legal opinion from Comelec-NIR election supervisor Atty. Cindy Ballesteros, indicating that the local government unit could pay the honoraria of more than 600 support staff if they have available funds.

Miranda mentioned that their city legal officer will review the poll body’s legal opinion.

If it provides a sufficient legal basis, Miranda said he is ready to push for the passage of a supplemental budget for the payment.

He emphasized that the support staff should be paid for their assistance during the BSKE in 2023.

The Comelec-Kabankalan hired 661 teachers to serve as support staff for the BSKE, although this was not authorized by Comelec./WDJ