DepEd’s task force monitors poll workers

The Department of Education (DepEd) – through its Election Task Force (ETF) operation and monitoring center – on Monday assured that it will continue to monitor and oversee election-related activities to be able to assist teachers and personnel who are performing poll duties in the 2019 midterm elections.

Undersecretary for Administration and ETF Chairperson Alain Del Pascua, in a press briefing, reported that as of 10:57 a.m., Monday, a total of 13,842 Electoral Board (EB) teachers and 4,122 ETFs, DepEd Supervosor Official (DESOs) have already reported using the DepEd Election Mobile App.

Based on the latest monitoring, Pascua said that "there were four incidents of injuries, three harassments, two legal complaints, and two unruly watchers" reported to the DepEd ETF.

The DepEd, led by Education Secretary Leonor Briones and Pascua, was scheduled to hold three press conferences on Monday to give updated information on any electionrelated concern reported by its teachers and personnel who are rendering poll duties.

To help ensure a credible and orderly 2019 national and local elections, DepEd reactivated the ETF from May 12 to 14 at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd-Central Office in Pasig City. Regional and schools division offices are likewise authorized to set up their respective ETF operation and monitoring centers on the same schedule as stated in DepEd Memorandum No. 52 series of 2019.

Pascua explained that the ETF operation and monitoring centers aim to “provide technical and legal assistance, and reports of incidents, issues, and concerns encountered by public school teachers in the performance of their duties as Electoral Board members, as well as the non-teaching personnel who will serve in the polls.”

Currently, DepEd is mobilizing 531,307 officials, teachers, and personnel, and a total of 36,830 schools will be used as poll centers. Also at the ETF were ETF Operations and Legal Support Head Atty. Marcelo Bragado Jr., and Information and Communication Technology Service (ICTS) Director Abram Abanil.