The Alliance of Concerned Teachers-National Capital Region (ACT NCR) Union called for the immediate release of the honoraria and allowances for teachers and Department of Education (DepEd) staff who served in the recent midterm elections. The union also called for the payment of overtime compensation and reiterated its demand to the regime to exempt these payments from taxes.

Members of the Electoral Board are paid ₱9,000 to ₱13,000, depending on their roles, before taxes. It should be recalled that Ferdinand Marcos Jr vetoed the bill in July 2022 that would have exempted their honoraria from taxes.

“It has been a week since the elections, yet thousands of teachers who served as members of the Electoral Board have not received their long-overdue compensation,” ACT-NCR Union President Ruby Bernardo said. She said, “it is unacceptable that teachers endure heat, fatigue, and risks for the election, but payment and benefits are always delayed.”

The ACT NCR Union highlights the serious challenges teachers face in monitoring the elections, including malfunctioning automated counting machines, health and safety risks, and nonstop work for over 24 hours. In addition, many teachers spent their own money for food and transportation, hoping they would be paid immediately, Bernardo said.

“Many of our teachers even borrowed cash just to serve properly on election day. This should not be the predicament of those who uphold our democracy,” she said.

Aside from calling for swift payment of honoraria, the ACT NCR Union also reiterated the need for comprehensive reform in the system of compensating election workers.

Bernardo said, “We are demanding not just the immediate payment of honoraria but also the complete tax exemption of all election service compensation, proper overtime pay for teachers who worked beyond 24 hours, and a more efficient payment system.”

The teacher-leader added that this is not a simple request but necessary measures to recognize the true value of teachers’ contributions to the democratic election process. “The Commission on Elections must recognize that teachers are not just election frontliners–they are also breadwinners to families,” Bernardo said.

“Wiithout teachers, there is no election. The sacrifices of teachers should not be neglected. It is time to fully, properly, and rightfully compensate them,” Bernardo concluded.