Comelec to review DepEd’s appeal to exempt teachers’ allowance from tax

On Wednesday, May 4, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave assurance that it will carefully review the Department of Education’s (DepEd) recommendation to spare teachers and non-teaching personnel’s allowance for their election duties from tax.

This recommendation from DepEd will be promptly acted upon. Comelec is a collegial body so we will submit this to Comelec en banc for appropriate action,

Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said.

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The poll body said it will also address the petition of some sectors to increase the benefits of DepEd personnel who will be rendering their service for the upcoming elections.

Recently, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) along with various teachers’ groups have asked the Comelec to give additional allowances to all DepEd personnel who were tapped for election duties and exempt the travel allowance of personnel that will act as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) from the planned 20-percent tax deduction by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The teachers’ group expressed that if their concerns will not be recognized, some personnel may back out form their duties.

Pangarungan, however, said that they were aware of the plight of the DepEd personnel who must carry the additional weight of ensuring an honest, fair, and peaceful election.

He added that should some teachers decide to withdraw from their election duties, Comelec is prepared to augment their personnel.