Press Release - Gatchalian calls for full payment to all poll workers

All election workers, both teachers and non-teachers, should have already received their well-deserved full honoraria, especially now that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) are officially over, and all winners have been proclaimed, according to Senator Win Gatchalian.

A former three-term mayor from Valenzuela City, Gatchalian also expressed his gratitude to those who served in this year's polls. As of Friday, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has reported that a total of 99,801 members of the Electoral Board (EB) have been paid, which is only 16.5% of the 605,379 total EB members who served during the last BSKE. In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), over 1,200 policemen served in place of teachers who begged off from poll duties due to security concerns and to prevent failure of elections.

"Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng ating mga guro at kawani sa napakahalagang papel nila upang tiyakin ang tagumpay at kaayusan ng barangay at SK elections. Kaya tungkulin ng gobyerno na tiyaking matatanggap nila agad at buo ang kanilang mga sahod at benepisyo," said Gatchalian.

According to the COMELEC, poll workers' allowances and benefits increased this year. The chairman of the electoral board now has a salary of P10,000 from P6,000, while members' pay increased from 5,000 to P9,000. The Department of Education (DepEd) has also assured that teachers are entitled to medical benefits and personal accident insurance coverage, which can be availed through the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

In relation to this, Gatchalian has sought anew to exclude poll workers rendering service in the future from gross income and exempt from tax the honoraria, travel allowances, and other benefits granted by the COMELEC. He made this proposal in Senate Bill No. 2398, which seeks to amend Section 32 of the Republic Act No. 8424 or the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended. Gatchalian filed a similar measure during the 18th Congress.

Recognizing the sacrifices made by poll workers during every election, Gatchalian believes that granting the full amount of their honoraria is the best way to show gratitude and appreciation for their