MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured anew that teachers who will be serving as Board of Election Tellers (BETs) in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14 will be paid as soon as they are done fulfilling their duties.
Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez noted that majority of the teachers will receive their honoraria and allowances on Election Day.
“For the vast majority of teachers, they will be paid on Election Day, after their election service,” he said in an interview Monday.
The poll body official explained that for those who will not be able to get their payment after service on May 14, may have incomplete paper works.
“People will only get paid if there is complete paper works. But as we get near Election Day, there will be those who will withdraw for one reason or another and we will have to find alternates. So, there’s a real possibility that those tapped at the last minute will see some delays,” Jimenez said.
Meanwhile, he added that the matter regarding the withholding tax on the honoraria and transportation allowances of teachers is up to the decision of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
“The 5-percent tax is in accordance to the BIR circular. So that is really up to the BIR,” Jimenez said, adding that they will still deduct the tax being the withholding agency.
“The current state of play is give them the amount provided in the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA) with 5 percent deduction,” he added.
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition has earlier urged the government not to impose the 5-percent tax on their honoraria for serving in the polls.
Under ESRA, teachers are entitled to the corresponding honoraria: chairperson of the electoral boards, PHP6,000; members of electoral boards, PHP5,000; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO), PHP4,000; and support staff, PHP2,000.
They will also receive travel allowance amounting to PHP1,000. (PNA)
