The president of the Association of Classroom Teachers-Bacolod yesterday denied reports that the teachers have not been paid their Emergency Cost of Living Allowance for April.

Richard Gelangre said some of the teachers already received their ECOLA last month and he believes others will be receiving theirs soon, since it is still being processed. He said reports that they are complaining are not true, since they continue to receive their ECOLA and the biggest amount they have received has been during the Leonardia administration.

Records show that the total ECOLA released to the teachers under the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia is P46,690 compared to P20,410 under the Valdez administration, and only P7,000 under the Verdeflor administration.

Between 1999 and 2001 the teachers received P10,540 in back ECOLA under the Leonardia administration, P2,560 under the Valdez administration and P700 under the Verdeflor administration. They also received P9,900 in grants and donations under the Leonardia administration, compared to P6,300 under the Verdeflor administration and none under the Valdez administration. Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers and the Association of Classroom Teachers in Bacolod City are setting up a Teachers' Election Hotline on Monday and Tuesday to assist the public concerning problems related to the May 14 synchronized national and local elections.

Gelangre said they will be available 24 hours from May 14 to May 15, starting 6 a.m.

The provincial hotline center is 09157703916, 09154058542, 09186835342 or 09287399974. The national hotline center is 435-9116, 0920-9220817 or 09162870254.*CGS

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