The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the announcement of an additional P1,000 across-the-board honoraria for teachers and poll workers, on top of the previously approved P2,000 increase in compensation for serving in the May 2025 national and local elections.

In a statement issued on Monday, May 19, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara expressed his gratitude for the additional compensation, emphasizing its importance to the thousands of public school teachers and staff who dedicate long hours to ensuring the integrity of the country’s electoral process.

Angara thanked President Marcos and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Pangandaman for their “swift action to recognize the dedication of our teachers who served as poll workers.”

“Every hour they spent at the precincts, many working past midnight, is a testament to their public service,” said Angara. “More than financial relief, this additional allowance is a symbol of the country’s respect for teachers as guardians of democracy,” he added.

Angara also highlighted that the preparations of teachers and personnel contributed to the record-breaking voter turnout in this year’s elections.

“With an 81.65 percent voter turnout—the highest in COMELEC history—we know our teachers and staff played a vital role in ensuring the credibility, order, and success of the polls,” he said.

Citing DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, DepEd noted that the increase complied with President Marcos’s directive to ensure fair compensation for election frontliners.

DepEd said the DBM approved the release of P758.459 million to cover the P1,000 additional allowance for poll workers.

This, DepEd added, is on top of the P2,000 increase under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Based on estimates from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), around 758,549 poll workers—most of whom are public school teachers—served during the May 2025 polls.

COMELEC said that full election compensation, including the newly approved increases, will be received by workers within 10 days after election day.

In an earlier statement, Angara expressed gratitude to the millions of Filipinos who voted in the May 2025 midterm elections and encouraged everyone to bring that same civic commitment to improving the nation’s education system.

“We are grateful to every Filipino who exercised their right to vote,” Angara said. “Democracy is our people staying engaged, especially in causes that shape the future, like education,” he added.

Referencing data from COMELEC and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Angara highlighted that approximately 80 percent of the country’s 68 million registered voters participated in the elections, demonstrating a powerful show of public dedication to democratic governance.

Angara also echoed President Marcos’s post-election message, describing the peaceful and orderly elections as a “renewal of our democracy” and a call to address pressing national challenges.

“As President Marcos said, our democracy has renewed itself,” Angara said. “Now, we must channel that same commitment to the long-term work ahead, ensuring that every Filipino child has access to quality learning aligned with our Bagong Pilipinas vision,” he added.

Angara also called on every Filipino to take an active role in uplifting the education sector.

“The midterm elections may be over, but the real work of nation-building continues,” he said. “We encourage everyone to be education champions,” he added.

Angara emphasized that education must be “front and center” as newly elected leaders assume their posts.

“We now have new senators, governors, mayors—some seasoned, some young and hungry, all stepping into the ring of public service,” Angara said. “They come bearing the hopes of our people. But hope alone is not enough,” he added.

Angara also noted that leadership needs clarity. “As new mandates begin, may we ensure that the data we provide guides them,” he said. “For the hands of newly elected leaders, every percentage point becomes a budget line, a classroom, a reading corner, a chance at a better life,” he added.

Angara once again commended the more than 600,000 teachers and DepEd personnel who served as poll workers, ensuring the smooth conduct of elections in schools nationwide.

“Our teachers once again proved to be frontliners of democracy,” he said. “Their professionalism, calm under pressure, and deep sense of service are examples we can all learn from,” he added.