Teachers' groups on Saturday, May 10, voiced strong criticism over the recent increase in poll honoraria, calling it a "recycled" measure that fails to address the real needs of educators.

In separate statements, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) both criticized the statement from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which claimed that poll duty compensation for the May 2025 elections will rise by P2,000 across the board following President Marcos’ directive.

TDC alleged that the announced P2,000 increase in election honoraria for poll workers is “not new” and has been known to them for more than a year.

TDC spokesperson Jim Lester Beleno reacted to the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) statement that poll duty compensation will increase across the board—Electoral Board (EB) chairpersons will receive P12,000 from P10,000; EB members will get P11,000 from P9,000; and support staff will receive P8,000 from P6,000.

DBM said this was based on a directive from President Marcos.

“Hindi naman po totoo na may dagdag na honoraria (It’s not true that there is an additional honorarium),” Beleno said, noting that payment for the EB Chair will remain at P12,000; P11,000 for EB members; and P8,000 for support staff.

“‘Yun naman talaga ang nakalagay sa general instructions ng Comelec, yun din ang sinasabi sa training namin. Matagal na naming alam 'yan (Well, that’s exactly what is stated in Comelec’s general instructions, and it’s also what was explained during our training. We’ve known this for a long time),” said Beleno, who will also serve as EB Chairperson at a precinct in Roxas High School in Manila.

Beleno said these amounts “were already conveyed to teachers” during the Comelec training and are stipulated in Comelec Resolution No. 11076, or the General Instructions for the Electoral Board, promulgated on October 30, 2024.

Even before the training sessions in March, Beleno said Comelec Chair George Garcia had “already committed” in a February 2024 meeting to increasing the poll workers’ compensation.

This commitment came after TDC Chairperson Benjo Basas asked whether the Comelec would continue supporting the tax exemption for election duty pay following President Marcos’ veto of the proposed bill.

Beleno then challenged the DBM and the Marcos administration to “go beyond” the announced increases and push for the revival and passage of the vetoed tax-exemption bill.

“We urge the President and Congress to take favorable action to exempt our honoraria from taxes --- that is the more meaningful relief we’ve long been asking for,” Beleno said.

TDC said it has consistently called for fair and tax-free compensation for teachers who serve as frontliners during elections.

For the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, the move was a “concerted publicity stunt by the administration just days before election day to boost its image.”

ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua alleged that the Marcos administration has “repackaged” the news about additional compensation for teachers and other election workers.

“Mukhang gimik ito para magpabango sa mga botante ilang araw bago ang eleksyon at pagtatakip sa katotohanang binubuwisan pa ang kompensasyon para sa buwis-buhay na serbisyo ng mga nagsisilbi sa halalan (This seems like a publicity stunt to appeal to voters just days before the election, while covering up the reality that the compensation for election workers—who risk their lives in service—is still being taxed),” he added.

ACT stressed that the announced increase remains “grossly insufficient” considering the enormous responsibilities, long working hours, and high-risk conditions endured by teachers during elections.

The group also pointed out that election workers’ compensation will be significantly reduced by the imposed 15 to 20 percent taxation, leaving poll workers with barely noticeable increases.

“The government’s continued refusal to grant just, substantial, and tax-free compensation to poll workers shows its disregard for the crucial role of teachers in safeguarding democratic processes,” Quetua said.

“Now, the administration attempts to score political points by repackaging a meager and long-overdue increase for teachers and poll workers,” he added.

ACT pointed out that for four years, teachers fought for the passage of the bill that sought to exempt election service honoraria from income tax, which ACT Teachers Party-list principally authored in Congress.

The group said it was finally passed by both the House and Senate on June 4, 2022, before the 18th Congress adjourned, but was ultimately vetoed by President Marcos, barely a month into office—“betraying the longstanding clamor of teachers for fair election service compensation."

ACT reiterated its demand for a P15,000 tax-free net election service honorarium, along with overtime pay for extended poll work hours.

This request takes into account the various challenges and potential irregularities that poll workers, as frontline staff, will face from the preparation stage through to the turnover of election returns on May 12.