30T teachers to serve as EB members in CV

Around 30,000 public school teachers and nonteaching personnel in Central Visayas will serve in today’s general elections as members of the board of election inspectors.

Department of Education (DepEd)-7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez said that most of them are already veterans in the conduct of elections having served several electoral exercises in the past.

Jimenez said that firsttimers are also well-trained and are very capable of ensuring the credible and orderly conduct of the elections.

Majority of the teachers will be serving the Cebu Island at over 13,000 while 10,000 will be in Bohol, 5,000 in Negros Oriental and the rest in Siquijor.

Jimenez said that everything is in place after their final meeting with the different schools superintendents last Friday.

“Last Friday, we have a meeting with our superintendents for our last instructions” said Jimenez.

The Election Task Force Operation and Monitoring Center had been re-activated to assist public school teachers and personnel who will serve in todays elections.

“Gi-prepare na ni ahead…from the school how to communicate to the division office and regional office… All are preparing, even today, Sunday, members of the Task Force are doing their task..

Nagput-up na pud og areas kung naay mga tawo nga naay concern,” said Jimenez.

Nationwide, there are 319,317 members of the Electoral Board from DepEd; 200,627 as EB Support Staff; 38,989 DepEd Supervisor Officials; 87,162 DESO Support Staff; and 1,717 as members of the Board of Canvassers.

DepEd turned over to the Commission on Elections over 37,219 public schools nationwide to be used as polling centers.

Over 106,439 classrooms to be used as clustered precincts and the same number of classrooms to be used as isolation polling places have also been turned over.

In Central Visayas, only two areas--both in Tanjay, Negros Oriental-- will not be using schools as polling centers as the schools have been devastated by typhoon Odette. According to Jimenez, one has been transferred to a gym while another one in a health center.

Meanwhile, DepEd has also launched a mobile app in partnership with Microsoft and Grab Philippines to assist poll workers in the 2022 National and Local Elections.

“We have launched the DepEd mobile monitoring app that will aid us in making sure that all reports and information from our field offices are accessible,” said Usec Alain Del Pascua.

ROMEO MARANTAL Jerwin Cortes Laguna, 25, is held for questioning following his arrest Saturday night at a checkpoint in the mountain barangay of Lusaran, Cebu City for illegal possession of firearms. Several sample ballots, two of which have money attached, were also found in his possession.