Our poll workers

IT’S UNDERSTANDABLE that a lot of attention is now focused on the May 2022 election candidates. But let us not forget the “silent heroes” of the electoral process – our poll workers.

Recently, the House passed a bill exempting from taxes all amounts (read: honorarium) granted to persons rendering election service for local and national elections into law. The Senate should swiftly pass its counterpart bill. Congress cannot let another election slip by and let the already measly honoraria and allowances of poll workers be taxed.

Imposing tax on the honoraria and allowances of election service volunteers destroys the spirit and intent of the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA), which is to compensate the hardships of persons rendering election service. They must therefore enjoy the compensation in full and not bear additional burdens.

The honorarium and travel allowances of those volunteering to serve in the local and national elections is essentially not an income but actually a form of reimbursement for the expenses incurred by the poll workers in the performance of their official duties and recognition of their volunteerism. These allowances and honorarium for election service were never taxed before 2018.

Congress should also seriously consider increasing the allowances of our poll workers, especially now. With the COVID-19 pandemic, poll workers would most likely have to serve longer hours and are vulnerable as they are exposed not only from COVID-19 but also other dangers that come with serving in the elections. Take note that most of these poll workers are public school teachers.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers actually already proposed increases in the ESRA benefits, namely honoraria of P10,000 for Chairpersons of Electoral Boards, P9,000 for Members of Electoral Boards, P8,000 for DepEd Supervisor Officials, and P7,000 for support staff as well as travel allowance of P3,000 to P5,000 and food allowance of P2,500.”

Teachers deserve to receive the full amount of the honorarium after undertaking their high-risk job as poll workers. They are required to attend training, deliver the election paraphernalia to and from Comelec offices and precincts, and perform other election-related tasks. It is only under the Duterte administration that even travel allowance and poll workers’ honorarium are not safe from taxation. Haslo!

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