THE DEPARTMENT of Education  has activated its Election Command Center at TechZone in Makati City to support teaching and non-teaching personnel serving in the national and local elections on Monday (12 May 2025).

The center began full operations at 1 p.m. on Sunday and will remain operational until 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

In a press release, DepEd stated that the center will provide real-time assistance and rapid response to any issues encountered by DepEd personnel serving as poll workers.

“The Department stands firm in protecting our teachers and ensuring that they are never alone as they carry out this vital civic duty,” said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.

“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.

Supported by DepEd’s central, regional, and schools division offices, the command center serves as the national coordination hub for the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF).

For the first time, the ETF is operating with a dedicated PHP99.3 million allocation from the General Appropriations Act to fund election-related efforts.

The ETF has mobilized specialized teams across the country for real-time monitoring, legal support, hotline and help desk operations, incident response, and post-election reporting.

These teams are tasked with safeguarding personnel welfare, coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and ensuring timely resolution of issues in the field.

The DepEd Central Office ETF can be reached through 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

(02) 7908-0374

Angara also reminded all DepEd officials and personnel to remain non-partisan in accordance with civil service regulations, reaffirming the Department’s commitment to upholding democratic values and maintaining the public’s trust.