AS ELECTION day draws near, the Department of Education issued a stern warning to its officials, teachers and non-teaching personnel not to engage in electioneering.

Since last year, DepEd has reminded its personnel to avoid partisan activities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commissions and the Commission on Elections.

The lists of prohibited acts and excluded activities are emphasized in DepEd Order No. 48, series of 2018 (Prohibition on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activity) and its attached CSC Resolution.

On March 11, the Office of the Undersecretary for Field Operations issued a memorandum addressed to all field officials and personnel reiterating DepEd policies related to the elections.

The Election Task Force, headed by DepEd Undersecretary Alain Del Pascua, visited regions and divisions to conduct briefings and warn personnel against electioneering and partisan politics.

“We call on our DepEd officials and personnel to uphold political neutrality in the government service and maintain professionalism in the discharge of their duties. Failure of any DepEd official or personnel to comply with the existing rules and regulations of DepEd, Comelec, and CSC shall be subjected to the necessary administrative actions pursuant to DepEd Order No. 49, s. 2006 (Revised Rules of Procedure of the Department of Education in Administrative Cases), the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service, and the Omnibus Election Code,” the DepEd said in a statement.