THE DEPARTMENT of Education has clarified that the participation of public school teachers in the 2022 national and local elections is voluntary.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said that early this year, a survey was conducted among teachers to find out if they are willing to serve in the elections.

“I have the impression that this exercise is not going to be mandatory,” Briones said.

Majority of those polled said that they were willing to serve.

Education Undersecretary Revsee Escobedo maintained that the appointment of teachers as members of the Board of Election Inspectors is always on a voluntary basis.

“Dahil sa mahabang panahon at maraming eleksiyon na ang ating mga guro ay naging katuwang ng Commission on Elections sa panahon ng halalan, nakasanayan na ng ating mga kaguruan na tumulong dito sa pagko-conduct ng halalan,” Escobedo said.

Education Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said the department is hopeful that a higher honorarium will be given to teachers who will serve in the elections next year.

“We have to wait for the approval of the budget for 2022 because all of these are in the proposal stage. Our proposal is still intact. It’s still included in the proposal of Comelec and we will have to wait what will the Congress and Senate will approve,” Sevilla said.

“I think it’s premature to comment because anything that is going on at the House and Senate are part of the budget — a P9,000 compensation for the chairperson of The Board of Election Inspectors, P8,000 for its members, P7,000 for supervisors, and P5,000 for support staff,” she added.