Kimberly Capuyan

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) was authorized to mobilize law enforcement agencies and governmental instrumentalities, including the Department of Education (DepEd), for the conduct of May 12 national and local elections.


In a move to ensure orderly and peaceful national and local elections, the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF) is tasked with real-time monitoring, assistance, and legal support to teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The ETF will be dispatched to respond to election-related concerns from the central office, regional offices, and school division offices.

In a press release on May 11, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said the creation of the ETF aims to protect the teachers and officials in their election-related activities.
 
“The Department stands firm in protecting our teachers and ensuring that they are never alone as they carry out this vital civic duty,” Angara said.

“With the full support of the President and the trust of the Filipino people, we are ready to respond, assist, and uphold the integrity of this election,” he added.

On May 11, a DepEd ETF Command Center was opened at Techzone in Makati City as the primary hub for task operations.

The Command Center will be operational 24/7 from 1:00 p.m. on May 11 until 5:00 p.m. on May 13.

It was also activated in several offices across the country, including Bicol and Nueva Ecija, to monitor the elections and assist the teachers and personnel.

The DepEd Central Office ETF can be reached at the following hotlines:

(02) 8633-1940
(02) 8638-3703
(02) 8638-1780
(02) 8633-7256
(02) 8633-7202
(02) 8633-7213
(02) 8638-4044
(02) 8635-3761
Globe line – (02) 7908-0374

For the first time, the ETF was allocated a P99.3-million budget to support its election service, such as operational and logistical requirements, under the General Appropriations Act of the fiscal year of 2025.

The creation of the DepEd ETF was outlined in the DepEd Memorandum No. 03, s. 2025, released on April 22.