ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro was elated by the passage of measures seeking to exempt from tax teachers and other poll workers’ honoraria and other benefits.

“Malaking good news ito para sa mga nag-volunteer bilang Electoral Boards nitong nagdaang halalan, na karamihan ay public school teachers at DepEd employees.  Mas lalong malaking good news kung pirmahan agad ng pangulo ang bill natin,” Castro said.

She urged President Rodrigo Duterte to immediately act on the enactment of the bill.

“August 23 last year pa ito inaprubahan ng Lower House, at matagal na itong hinihintay ng mga guro.  Huwag na niya sanang patagalin sa lamesa niya ang bill at ipaabot pa sa susunod na pangulo,” she said.

Based on Castro’s computation, each teacher who served as poll clerk or third member of Board of Election Inspectors during the elections can refund P1,200 of their tax.

“Ito ay buwis na sapilitang kinuha mula sa kanila, na dapat ay ibalik sa kanila sa lalong madaling panahon. Tinataya ring libo-libong guro at empleyado ang makikinabang sa nakaraang 2022 elections at mga halalan sa hinaharap.  Ito ay well-deserved na pagkilala at pasasalamat sa kanilang sakripisyo at kabayanihan,” she said.