More than a week after the May 12 midterm elections, a teachers’ union in Metro Manila is demanding that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) immediately release unpaid honoraria owed to thousands of educators who served as electoral board members.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers – NCR Union (ACT-NCR) voiced outrage over what they described as an unacceptable delay in compensating poll workers. The group said many teachers used personal funds to cover transportation and food costs, expecting prompt reimbursement.
ACT-NCR Union President Ruby Bernardo said teachers worked through extreme conditions but were again left waiting when it came to their compensation. She added that some had to borrow money just to perform their duties on election day.
Comelec previously announced that all election-related allowances would be distributed within 10 days of the polls. As of this writing, many teachers have not received their payments.
Bernardo emphasized that teachers, often the backbone of the country’s elections, consistently face risks and exhaustion yet are neglected when it matters most.
Exhaustion, delays spark protest
According to ACT-NCR, teachers endured long hours, some working over 24 hours straight while dealing with malfunctioning vote-counting machines and health and safety challenges. The group highlighted that while election duty has always been a major sacrifice, the least the government could do is ensure timely compensation.
Public school teachers, under Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act of 2016, are no longer compelled to serve in elections but may volunteer. Despite this protection, many still feel pressured to sign up and risk their safety in hotspots with a history of election violence.
Push for tax exemption on honoraria
Aside from demanding immediate payment, ACT-NCR renewed calls to exempt teachers’ election pay from taxes. The group claimed that the 15% tax deduction undercuts the P1,000 increase in compensation recently approved by Comelec and the Department of Budget and Management.
Bernardo noted that the additional amount has little value when taxes reduce the actual take-home pay. She also said teachers who worked beyond the 24-hour mark should receive overtime compensation.
Under the new rates, electoral board chairpersons are entitled to P13,000; poll clerks and third members, P12,000; and support staff, P9,000.
More than 758,000 individuals served in the 2025 elections, and all were supposed to benefit from the P758.5 million allocated to cover the increase in honoraria.
Comelec has yet to release a formal statement on the delay. The union said it will continue to raise its concerns publicly and seek accountability.
Bernardo said this situation must not become a recurring issue, especially for educators who remain central to the electoral process.
Jaja has a degree in journalism and took classes in international law and business communication. Her career spans roles at prominent international media outlets, including International Business Times, Celebeat and Delightful Philippines. As a news editor, Jaja covered a wide range of beats, including legal, business, economy, cryptocurrency, personal finance, gaming, technology, and entertainment.