E-SEASON – Bayan Muna hails nomination of employee for commissioner

Bayan Muna Representative Neri  Colmenares today commended the act of the employees of the Commission on Elections  (COMELEC) to nominate for the next COMELEC Commissioner one coming from among their ranks. 
“The COMELEC does not only manage the conduct of elections but also administers the thousands of COMELEC employees  all over the country.  It is but right that these employees will also have a voice in the Commission.  In fact, the employee representative may be able to bring in the expertise needed in managing and supervising the bureaucracy. Most of the Commissioners appointed are lawyers many of whom do not have experience in managing a large office, one of the main reasons for the perception that the COMELEC is one of the most inefficient agencies in the country,” said Rep. Colmenares.
“This is the first time that the employees gathered the courage to nominate one of their own and I hope Pres. Aquino will do a novel move and appoint someone who has no personal or political ties with him. It will help convince people that his appointment of a COMELEC commissioner is not intended to favor the ruling party in the 2013 and 2016 elections. A Commissioner from the employees’ rank is like a breath of fresh air in the corridors of power in the COMELEC. Most importantly the employees will now have a voice in the Commission that will ensure that benefits are fairly and equitably accorded them.  COMELEC employees are among the lowest paid when compared to other government agencies. They are given a lower salary grade compared to their counterparts doing a similar job in other agencies. ”