NEWS RELEASE||𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐄𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

BUTUAN CITY, May 8, 2025— 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐂. 𝐀𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐎 𝐈𝐕, 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵, 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝟏𝟑,𝟗𝟐𝟐 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗘𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿s 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀.

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐤𝐬. DepEd Caraga has finalized the designation of 2,975 school precincts regionwide, ensuring each voting center is properly assigned and equipped. Assistance desks are established at precincts to provide voter information, support election workers, and address immediate concerns. Maps indicating voting center locations have been distributed to guide voters and personnel alike.

𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬. To prioritize safety, detailed emergency evacuation plans, and floor layouts have been prepared for all voting centers. These protocols aim to facilitate orderly movement and quick response in case of emergencies, minimizing risks to voters and staff.

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬. In close coordination with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), DepEd Caraga has developed robust security plans to safeguard election venues. Traffic management schemes are also in place to ensure smooth entrance and exit, preventing congestion around polling sites.

𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. DepEd Caraga’s Election Task Force (ETF) from the schools, division offices, and regional office work closely with the DepEd Central Office Election Command Center that will operate nationwide from May 11 to 13, providing real-time monitoring and incident response. Dedicated hotline numbers have been established to offer immediate assistance to election personnel and voters (see related post at this link: https://tinyurl.com/4faxyhjs).

𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬. In compliance with health guidelines, sanitation measures including regular disinfection of voting areas have been implemented. Medical assistance will be available on-site to attend to any health emergencies.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥. DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the department’s commitment: "Our teachers are holding up the pillars of democracy. In return, we are making sure their service is met with gratitude, preparation, and protection."

To this end, the DepEd Election Task Force will provide honoraria, overtime pay, or compensatory time off to personnel serving during the elections, following government policies. Strict political neutrality guidelines have been enforced to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.

This comprehensive preparation reflects DepEd’s dedication to supporting educators and ensuring that the 2025 elections proceed in a safe, fair, and orderly manner.

For media inquiries, please contact (085) 221-1151; 0961-737-0873; 0915-808-4734. Website: www.caraga.deped.gov.ph; email: caraga@deped.gov.ph; pau_caraga@deped.gov.ph.

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