DepEd gives full support to teachers, personnel serving in May polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has formed a task force that will provide assistance and technical information to 240,000 teachers who will serve as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) for the May national and local elections.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF) Operation Center will be established at the DepEd head office in Pasig City starting 1 p.m. of May 12 until 12 noon of May 14.

Luistro said the ETF will ensure that teachers are provided with adequate information as well as technical and legal assistance in their role as members of the BEIs.

The same protection is extended to principals, supervisors, schools division/city superintendents and other DepEd employees who will serve in the May 13 polls, he said.

Luistro has designated DepEd Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Alberto Muyot as chair of the steering committee.

“Our DedEd personnel deserve all the support they need to enable them to better perform this noble duty of overseeing the conduct of an honest and free elections,” Luistro said.

The ETF will also serve as DepEd’s link to volunteer organizations, partner agencies and individuals involved in the May polls, he said.

The DepEd chief reminded all DepEd personnel to remain non-partisan and not to intervene directly or indirectly in any election campaign or engage in any partisan political activity except to vote.

DepEd earlier signed an agreement with the Integrated Bar of Philippines (IBP) for the provision of free legal assistance to BEIs who may face harassment by way of lawsuits.

Muyot said an average of 100 BEIs are subject to various charges during elections.

“The problem in the past was at the start of the hearings, there are no lawyers to represent the BEIs,” he said.

Vicente Joyas, IBP governor for Southern Luzon, assured the DepEd that BEIs will receive the necessary legal assistance.

He said the IBP will deploy at least five lawyers each in its 85 chapters nationwide to assist the teachers.