đź“·: Courtesy of Phil. News Agency
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-NCR Union is calling for the immediate release of honoraria and allowances due to teachers and Department of Education (DepEd) personnel who served in the recent midterm elections. The union is also pressing for the tax exemption of election-related compensation and overtime pay for educators who rendered extended hours of service.
“It has been a week since the elections, yet thousands of teachers who served as members of the Electoral Board have not received their long-overdue compensation,” said Ruby Bernardo, President of the ACT-NCR Union. “Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang mga guro ay nagtitiis ng init, pagod, at panganib para sa halalan, ngunit pagdating sa bayad at benepisyo, laging huli.” [It is unacceptable that teachers endure heat, exhaustion, and danger for elections, yet when it comes to compensation and benefits, they are always left waiting.]
ACT-NCR emphasized the serious challenges faced by teacher-poll workers, including malfunctioning vote-counting machines, health and safety risks, and working more than 24 consecutive hours, only to be met with delays in payment.
“Many teachers had to spend their own money for food and transportation, expecting that their honoraria would be paid promptly,” Bernardo added. “Marami sa ating mga guro ang umutang pa para lang makapagserbisyo nang maayos sa araw ng halalan. Hindi dapat ganito ang kalagayan ng mga tagapagtaguyod ng ating demokrasya.” [Many of our teachers even borrowed money just to properly serve on election day. This should not be the situation for those who uphold our democracy.]
In addition to calling for the expedited release of election honoraria, the ACT-NCR Union is renewing its call for comprehensive reforms in how election workers are compensated. “We are demanding not just the immediate payment of honoraria but also the complete tax exemption of all election service compensation, proper overtime pay for teachers who worked beyond 24 hours, and a more efficient payment system that respects the urgency of teachers’ financial needs,” Bernardo emphasized. “These are not merely requests but necessary measures to recognize the true value of teachers’ contributions to our democratic process.”
“Election service is already a major sacrifice. Taxing their meager honoraria only adds insult to injury,” Bernardo said. “While we acknowledge COMELEC’s P1,000 increase in honoraria, it is practically wiped out by the 15% tax deduction. Ang dagdag na P1,000 ay halos nawawalan ng silbi dahil sa 15% na buwis na kinakaltas. Nararapat lamang na maging tax-exempt ang honoraria ng mga guro, at dapat silang bigyan ng overtime pay kung sila ay nagtrabaho nang higit sa 24 na oras.” [The additional P1,000 is almost rendered useless because of the 15% tax deduction. Teachers’ honoraria should rightfully be tax-exempt, and they should receive overtime pay if they worked more than 24 hours.]
The union stressed that teachers play an indispensable role in the country’s democratic process, and they must be treated with fairness, dignity, and urgency.
“The Commission on Elections must recognize that teachers are not just election frontliners—they are breadwinners with families who depend on them,” Bernardo concluded. “Without teachers, there is no election. Kung walang guro, walang halalan. Ang sakripisyo ng mga guro ay hindi dapat pinapabayaan. Panahon na para suklian ito nang buo, maayos, at nararapat.” [Without teachers, there would be no elections. The sacrifices of teachers should not be neglected. It’s time to compensate them fully, properly, and appropriately.] #
