Teachers' group decries tax raises on travel allowances for poll work
MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines on Thursday slammed the tax raise of 20% allegedly imposed on their travel allowances of P2,000 each for poll duties in this year's national and local elections.
In the past, the tax raise was just 5%, they said, which the group has already been contesting.
Teachers are part of the Electoral Board (EB) which renders election-related service. The board is entitled to honoraria, travel allowances, communication allowances, anti-COVID-19 allowances and service credits.
Today, ACT's chapter based in National Capital Region (NCR) held a picket protest at the Comelec's main office to condemn the tax increase in their travel allowances related to elections-related work, while teachers from other regions held a separate protest virtually.
"This government is squeezing us dry. First, they refused to remunerate teacher-poll workers fair pay for their indispensable role every election. Now, they’re increasing tax impositions on what little compensation we are getting," ACT NCR Union President Vladimer Quetua said in a statement sent to reporters on Thursday.
ACT said it was the Bureau of Internal Revenue which "arbitrarily imposed" taxes on election-related honoraria and allowance in 2018.
Last year, the House filed a bill seeking to exempt the salaries and allowances of people rendering poll-related work. The measure was approved on the third reading and transmitted to the Senate.
On Thursday, ACT said the Senate has yet to file counterpart bills.
ACT also brought up to the Comelec other concerns, including a report that a teacher was demoted to "Third Member" from EB Chairperson because they tested positive for COVID-19 before attending a training for members of the Board Election Inspectors- which the group described as "discriminatory" and "inhumane."
The group describes itself as the largest non-traditional alliance of organizations, unions and federations of teachers and teaching support staff in the Philippines, with 180,000 members nationwide.
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