SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed strong support for institutionalizing automatic increases in the honoraria of teachers serving as election workers and is pushing for legislation to exempt these payments from income tax.

Gatchalian emphasized the need to end the recurring burden on teachers who often have to wait for the Commission on Elections and Malacañang to approve additional budget requests every election cycle.

“Maganda yan,” said Gatchalian, referring to the proposal of Comelec chairman George Garcia for automatic increases.

“Para hindi nakasalalay kung sino yung magdidesisyon, automatic na siya na tataasan,” he added.

The senator revealed he has already filed a bill under the Senate Ways and Means Committee seeking to make teachers’ election honoraria tax-free.

Under the current system, payments received by teachers are classified as income and are therefore subject to tax deductions.

“Dahil extraordinary responsibility, hindi naman dapat nilang gawin ito dahil mga guro sila. Pero dahil nga para sa kaayusan ng ating pagboboto, sila yung ginagamit na tao,” Gatchalian explained.

“Mayroong compensation, may bayad sa kanila pero kinakaltasan naman ng buwis. So nag-file tayo para i-exempt,” he added.

Gatchalian’s proposals aim to ease the financial strain on teachers who take on additional roles during elections—duties he describes as beyond their primary responsibilities as educators.

The call for automatic and tax-free election honoraria comes amid growing clamor from teachers and education groups seeking better treatment and compensation for their critical role in upholding the country’s democratic processes.