The Department of Education (DepEd) issued a reminder to its officials, teaching, and non-teaching personnel not to engage in electioneering and conducting partisan political activities in relation to the forthcoming May 2022 national and local elections.
“As stated in the Constitution, and in accordance with existing rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), government officials and employees are prohibited from engaging in any electioneering and partisan political activity to ensure civil servants are focused on public service,” DepEd said.
Teachers serve as Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs), ensuring clean and honest elections.
As BEIs, teachers oversee polling precincts, verify voters, and handle election-related materials.
“Guided by these policies, we call on our personnel and stakeholders to champion a clean, safe, and fair elections in 2022, for our children and for the future of this nation,” DepEd stressed.
The lists of prohibited acts and excluded activities are emphasized in DepEd Order No. 48, series of 2018 or the Prohibition on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activity and its attached Civil Service Resolution.
Honoraria, allowances adjustments
The DepEd also thanked Comelec for granting adjustments in the honoraria and allowances for public school teachers and poll workers who will serve during the polls.
“Nonetheless, we remain steadfast in helping the Commission on Elections secure a higher budget from Congress to provide additional benefits for our DepEd personnel,” DepEd said.
To establish extra layers of protection for DepEd personnel and schools amid the pandemic, the department will support the Comelec in justifying the following benefits:
a. Grant of Special Risk Allowance (SRA) equivalent to a maximum of 25 percent of the monthly basic salary/pay;
b. Affording food and water allowance amounting to P1,000.00 per day;
c. Health Insurance Coverage for those who will be infected by Covid-19 and the provision of vitamins and other immune-boosting supplements;
d. Provision of swab testing and other health services in case of subsistence of Covid-19 during the period of the 2022 national elections;
e. Allocating funds for the clean up and repair/maintenance expenses of every public school used as voting center; and
f. Grant of honoraria for the members of the DepEd Monitoring and Coordination Teams of the 2022 DepEd Election Task Force
“We will continue to coordinate with Comelec these significant requests for our teachers and poll workers, who are dedicated to champion clean, safe, and fair elections next year,” DepEd added.
