An educators’ group hailed the approval of the House of Representatives on Second Reading of a measure that would exempt the compensation received by poll workers from income and other withholding taxes.
House Bill No. 9652, which was approved through voice voting, seeks to amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to exclude election-related honoraria and allowances from the computation of gross income.
The long-time educator also said that the tax exemption, along with the pay increase that the Commission on Elections earlier approved, would go a long way in boosting teachers’ morale.
“The tax exemption for election workers’ pay will benefit many of our teachers who serve as frontliners in one of the most fundamental aspects of our democracy. It is only right that we give just compensation for their efforts, especially given the added risks due to COVID-19,” Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list President Marie Paz T. Abante said.
Abante expressed confidence that the Senate would follow suit in passing its counterpart measure.
“We are confident that our legislators realize that we are pressed for time. We are months away from the 2022 elections, and there would be no better time than this to show that we value our teachers by institutionalizing benefits that they deserve,” she said.
The long-time educator also said that the tax exemption, along with the pay increase that the Commission on Elections earlier approved, would go a long way in boosting teachers’ morale.
The Department of Education announced in June the Comelec’s approval of the proposed increase in pay and benefits received by teachers who will be tapped as election workers in 2022, which amounts to P3,000.
“Given the extra challenges brought about by the pandemic, it is only fitting that we provide a generous package to make the efforts of our teachers worthwhile.”
The agency said that the poll body will also include in its budget proposal for the 2022 elections the provision of health insurance, transportation allowance, food and water allowance, and clean-up and repair/maintenance expenses.
“Given the extra challenges brought about by the pandemic, it is only fitting that we provide a generous package to make the efforts of our teachers worthwhile,” Abante said.
