Danniell Domingo

Teachers who will render service for the 2024 midterm elections are set to receive a P2,000 increase in honoraria and 10 days of service credits, up from five days, to compensate for any challenges faced during election duty.

Photo Courtesy of Rappler.

In a dialogue with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Nov. 5, ACT Teachers Party-List President Antonio Tinio said that they have secured significant commitments from COMELEC Chairman George Garcia for increased benefits for teachers serving as poll workers.

“Ang positive dito ay regarding honorarium. may P2,000 increase na madadagdag dito. Kailangan pa ilaban, particularly, nasa Senate ang budget ngayon, na possibly may another P1,000 na maidagdag pa as transportation allowance on the day of election," Tinio said.

He added that teachers and other government employees rendering election duty would be granted 10 days of service credits and an extended 5 days of service credits, respectively. 

"This is a significant win for our teachers who have long served as the backbone of Philippine elections. The doubling of service credits and the additional benefits will help compensate for the risks and challenges they face during election duty," Tinio said.

Furthermore, Garcia expressed full support for tax exemption on teachers’ and government workers’ election service honoraria. 

To improve the efficiency of accessing trust funds for teachers, the COMELEC will streamline the reimbursement process for teachers’ legal and medical expenses.

Other demands discussed which were committed by the COMELEC include the discontinuation of digital signature requirement and the provision of additional support staff at all precincts. 

"We welcome these concrete steps to protect our teachers. The removal of the digital signature requirement and the assignment of two additional support staff per precinct will significantly ease their election day duties," Tinio said.

The ACT Teachers Party-List called on the Congress for restoration of the P14 billion budget cut imposed by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the COMELEC budget. 

They believe that the restoration of the budget cut will ensure higher compensation, additional benefits, and better protection for poll workers. 

On June 8, the COMELEC eyed raising the honoraria of teachers across the board due to additional poll hours.

"Wala na nga silang tax exemption eh, pagkatapos pagdadagdagin pa namin ng trabaho? May bagong makina pa na tuturuan namin sila tapos wala namang dagdag na kikitain sila sa araw na yun," Garcia said during an open forum in Pasig City.