Comelec urges law to institutionalize increase in teachers' honoraria

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has called for legislation institutionalizing increases in the honoraria for teachers serving as election staff and making the benefit tax-free. 

At a news forum on Thursday, Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia said that there will be no P2,000 across-the-board increase in the honoraria of teachers who will serve in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections in October. The said increase was implemented in the May 12 mid-term elections.

Garcia said the proposed P14 billion budget of the poll body for the 2025 BSKE was reduced to P11 billion. 

"Isa sa mga proposals ng inyong lingkod, sana magkaroon ng legislation na may automatic increase on a per election basis sa mga honoraria ng mga guro. Ibig sabihin, ‘pag nagkakaroon din tayo ng increase sa gastusin, dapat may automatic  increase sa honoraria ng mga guro,” Garcia told the monthly forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA).

(One of our proposals is for the crafting of a legislation that would automatically increase the honoraria of teachers per election basis.)

“Syempre pinu-push pa rin natin ang tax exemption ng mga guro. Hindi naisakatuparan nitong 2025 national and local elections. Sana magkaroon ng tax exemption sa BSKE and such other benefits. Susuportahan po natin yun," he said. 

(We’re also pushing for the tax exemption of teachers. This did not happen in the 2025 NLE but we are hoping it would be implemented in the BSKE.)

Teachers who served as poll workers in the recent elections received additional P2,000 honoraria. This gives ERB members with P10,000 and chairpersons with P12,000 but still subject to tax. 

According to Garcia, the Comelec will urge President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for additional honoraria, similar to the P1,000 increase granted to teachers for the 2025 May elections. 

“Kahit hindi mismo sinasabi ng mga guro, nararapat lang yun,” Garcia added. 

(They may not say anything but teachers deserve that.)

In September 2024, the Comelec said the budget cuts in their proposed 2025 funding will impact the preparations for the 2025 elections including the BSKE. It would likewise affect the voter education for the polls. –NB, GMA Integrated News