SENATORIAL bet Neri Colmenares joined the call of teachers to exempt from taxes the honorarium they receive for rendering poll duties.

“Kung tutuusin, ang halaga ng serbisyo nila ay higit pa sa nakukuha nilang honorarium tuwing eleksiyon. Bagaman may dagdag ngayong taon, ang ipinatong na buwis naman ay binabawas ang halaga ng kanilang paglilingkod,” Colmenares said.

“Sa taas ng bilihin ngayon, mas lalong kailangan nila ang bawat pisong makukuha para mairaos ang bawat araw ng tungkulin,” he added.

He stressed that teachers risk their lives during elections.

“They ensure that no one will tamper with election results. Yet they are compensated and taxed for it, while other government officials enjoy tax-free allowances,” Colmenares said.

He urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue to “fix the mistake of taxing our teachers for rendering work during the election.”

“The more the BIR imposes high taxes, the more the sacrifices of our teacher depreciate. Our teachers deserve more, and imposing a 20 percent tax only depreciates the value of their efforts to the country,” Colmenares said.