DepEd says teachers enough to run polling precincts if 2022 voting period extended

MANILA, Philippines — There will be sufficient teachers to be posted at polling precincts if the voting period for the 2022 national elections will be extended due to the observance of health protocols such as physical distancing, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Friday.

During the hearing of a Senate subcommittee on finance on the proposed budget of DepEd for 2021, Senator Sonny Angara asked Briones if there would be enough teachers, if the Comelec opts for multiple shifts, to handle the voting centers.

“I would imagine that there would be sufficient, but the law also provides that if the number of teachers would not be sufficient, then other sectors of the society can also be recruited or brought in,” Briones said.

However, Briones also pointed out that teachers are still the ones preferred to be deployed at polling precincts because they have vast experience in this activity and know the risks involved.

She noted that the voluntary system does not seem to have any effect as almost all of the teachers volunteer to participate in conducting the polls.

“We have 900,000 teachers. The law provides that participation in the electoral process, which is provided by law, has to be voluntary. If you go by the experience of last year’s elections, practically all, except those who are unable physically to participate, volunteered to participate in the electoral process,” Briones said.

She added that “it has become part of the tradition that teachers are trusted and they live up to this very high level of trust,” and that almost 100 percent of the teachers participate in manning polling precincts based on previous records.

“So I would imagine that if there is a decision, especially if it is covered by the law, our teachers will participate,” she also said.

The Commission on Elections earlier said it is looking into the possibility of conducting the 2022 national polls for two to three days to regulate the number of voters flocking to polling precincts if the COVID-19 pandemic still remains by that time. [ac]