Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) — The Department of Education said it has raised the honoraria given to teachers participating in the elections in May and added benefits in the form of transportation allowance, communication allowance and an anti-COVID-19 allowance.
DepEd Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said at the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday that the allowances or honoraria have been included in the budget of the Commission on Elections.
“Dito po may increase tayo. Kung ikukumpara natin nung 2019 na eleksyon at ngayon pong mangyayari na 2022 na eleksyon, ay nag-issue noong November 2021 ang Comelec para iannounce ang increase sa honoraria at allowances,” she said.
[Translation: We have an increase. If we compare it to the 2019 elections and the elections this year, the Comelec announced the increase in honoraria and allowances in 2021.]
Electoral Board chairperson – ₱7,000 (previously ₱6,000)
Electoral Board members – ₱6,000 (previously ₱5,000)
DepEd supervisor official – ₱5,000 (previously ₱4,000)
Support staff – ₱3,000 (previously ₱2,000)
Sevilla added that personnel who will be assigned during the elections will receive a ₱2,000 transportation allowance, ₱1,500 communication allowance and an anti-COVID-19 allowance of ₱500.
“Ito po ay pondo na nasa Comelec at ang nagku-coordinate para po makuha ito ng tama at timely ay ang ating Election Task Force ng DepEd na pinangungunahan po ni Usec. Alain Pascua,” said Sevilla.
[Translation: These are funds with the Comelec and the one coordinating to get this in a timely manner is DepEd’s Election Task Force headed Usec. Alain Pascua.]
According to Comelec Resolution No. 10727, the honoraria and allowances shall be paid within 15 days from the date of election.
The same resolution said those rendering election service are also entitled to death benefits and medical assistance.
DepEd also addressed the request of some teachers’ groups for a 20% tax exemption of the election service pay.
“Agree po ang Comelec na i-exempt ang mga teacher at ang ating mga volunteers para dito sa eleksiyon. Kaya lang po, mayroon po tayong batas, kahit nga ang BIR ay uma-agree rin sa ating layunin. Subalit may batas na kinakailangan i-amend bago ma-implement ang exemption. At iyan pong amendment sa batas ay hindi po nagawa ng Kongreso,” said DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua at the same briefing.
[Translation: The Comelec agrees that teachers and volunteers should be exempt for this election. However, there is a law and even even the BIR agrees with our goal. But the law has to be amended before the exemption is implemented. And that amendment has not been done by Congress]
