DEPARTMENT of Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday commended public school teachers, non-teaching staff and other poll watchers for the success of the 2025 national and local elections.

In a statement, Angara said DepEd personnel’s commitment to service helped ensure the orderly conduct of polls nationwide.

“These are not just public servants. They are frontliners of democracy,” Angara said.

“Saludo po kami. Dahil sa inyo, naging maayos at safe ang proseso. Kayo ang tunay na ka-team sa Bagong Pilipinas — laging handa, laging para sa bayan (We salute you. Because of you, the process has been orderly and safe. You are the true teammates of the New Philippines, always ready, always for the nation).”

According to the DepEd, more than 660,000 personnel served in Monday’s midterm polls.

Overall, 758,549 poll workers were deployed nationwide.

The DepEd Task Force, meanwhile, logged 603 election-related issues through its 24/7 command center.

The reports included malfunctioning automated counting machines, irregularities in ballots and receipts, and voters’ list concerns, with the majority of reports coming from Metro Manila and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DepEd earlier said prompt responses were given in coordination with the Commission on Elections and other government agencies. (PNA)