THE DEPARTMENT of Education said that it has prepared measures to ensure the safety and security of poll workers and voters.

“Briefly, we have defined some safety protocols for the May 9 national and local elections, and this is also made in conjunction with Comelec [Commission on Elections],” DepEd Election Task Force Chairman and Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua said.

Pascua said that DepEd will establish voters assistance desks during and after the elections.

They will also set up sanitation stations and disinfection areas in polling centers, have temperature checks, and encourage the use of face masks.

The DepEd will strictly reinforce the social distancing policy (1 meter apart), place plastic barriers in electoral board and voters areas and designate isolation polling places for voters with temperatures of 37.5˚ C or higher.

The department will also conduct various post-election activities, including the return of election paraphernalia and materials used by the electoral boards to the election officers and sanitation and disinfection of schools used as voting precincts.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the department continuously crafted initiatives that will help the teaching and non-teaching personnel during elections.

“From the very beginning, we have been proactively creating policies and plans that would be critical in preparing and conducting the 2022 national and local elections. We are also ensuring everyone that we prioritize the well-being of our teachers and personnel who will serve on May 9,” Briones said.