By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental provincial election supervisor Atty. Ian Lee Ananoria said support staff during the 2023 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the cities of Kabankalan and Himamaylan have yet to receive their honorarium after nearly a year.

Ananoria said there is still no update on when the 660 support staff in Kabankalan and 221 in Himamaylan will be paid.

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda and Himamaylan Mayor Reymund Tongson have assured that they will do everything possible to ensure that each support staff member will receive their P5,000 honorarium.

Ananoria expressed hope that by the end of the year, the payments will be processed as compensation for their service during the 2023 BSKE elections.

It is noted that local government units of Kabankalan and Himamaylan owe P3.7 million and P1.2 million, respectively, in unpaid honoraria for the support staff.

Reshuffling 

The Commission on Elections in Negros Occidental may implement more reshuffling of election officers before the 2025 midterm elections.

Ananoria said several election officers may be transferred to other local government units in the province.

Reshuffling is possible if an election officer has a relative who will be running in a local government unit where they are currently assigned, or if a poll officer retires from service.

Ananoria pointed out that an election officer should be a lawyer.

Earlier, the reshuffling of positions has been conducted for the following election officers:

* Christian Leigh Razonable from Murcia town will serve as acting election officer in Bago City

* Rolando Genito from Silay City will become the election officer in Kabankalan City

* Kathrina Trinio-Caña from Bacolod City will be the election officer in Silay City

* Revo Sorbito from Cadiz City will take the position in Bacolod

* Claudine Joyce Ballesteros from Manapla town will assume duties in Cadiz/JB, WDJ