Teachers Demand Timely Electoral Board Honoraria
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-NCR Union has urged the immediate release of honoraria for members of the electoral board who served during the recent midterm elections. The call highlights the urgent need to address delayed payments that have affected many educators.
ACT-NCR union president Ruby Bernardo expressed frustration over the situation, noting that some teachers worked for more than 24 consecutive hours on Election Day. Many even spent their own money on food and transportation to ensure smooth election processes, only to face payment delays afterward.
“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,” Bernardo said in a statement.
“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,” she added.
(It’s unacceptable that teachers had to endure heat, exhaustion, and danger for the elections, but their pay and benefits always come late.)
Government Steps and Remaining Concerns
Last week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced it had begun distributing honoraria to teachers and other poll workers who participated in the midterm elections. The Comelec aims to complete payments within ten days after May 12.
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved an additional P1,000 honorarium for teachers and poll workers, releasing a total of P758.459 million. This comes on top of the initial P2,000 compensation authorized under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Despite the increase, ACT-NCR union leaders appeal for tax exemption on all election-related compensation. They also demand overtime pay for teachers who worked extended hours beyond 24 continuous hours.
“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,” Bernardo said.
(The additional P1,000 is almost worthless because of the 15% tax deducted from it. The honoraria of teachers should be tax-exempt and they should be given overtime pay if they worked more than 24 hours.)
Background on Poll Workers and Next Steps
Reports indicate that approximately 758,549 poll workers participated in the recent midterm elections, with the majority being public school teachers. Their critical role in ensuring the election’s success has brought attention to their compensation concerns.
Authorities continue to process honoraria releases, while community leaders advocate for fair treatment and timely payment of election service workers.
For more news and updates on electoral board honoraria, visit Filipinokami.com.