Makati City: The Department of Education (DepEd) has activated its Election Command Center at TechZone in Makati City to support teaching and non-teaching staff serving in the national and local elections on Monday. The center launched its full operations starting 1 p.m. Sunday and will terminate 5 p.m. Tuesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, the agency stated in a press release that the center will provide real-time assistance and rapid response to issues encountered by DepEd personnel serving as poll workers. Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the department's commitment to protecting teachers and ensuring they are supported in carrying out their civic duties, with the full backing of the President and the trust of the Filipino people.

Supported by DepEd's Central, regional, and schools division offices, the command center acts as the national coordination hub of the DepEd Election Task Force (ETF). For the first time, the ETF is operating under a dedicated PHP99.3 million allocation from the General Appropriations Act to fund election-related efforts. The ETF mobilizes 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 deployed to safeguard the welfare of personnel, coordinate with the Commission on Elections, and ensure the proper and timely resolution of field issues. The DepEd Central Office ETF can be reached through various hotlines, providing essential communication channels for assistance.

Education Secretary Angara reminded all officials and personnel to maintain non-partisanship in accordance with civil service regulations, reinforcing the commitment to uphold democratic values and public trust.