The Philippine Educators Alliance for Community Empowerment (PEACE) Party-list reminded candidates on Friday that schools are off-limits for campaigns and other political activities.
“Paalala lamang po na ipinagbabawal ng Department of Education ang paggamit ng mga paaralan para sa political activities. Our schools are protected ground, so I hope we respect their independence,” PEACE PL president and first nominee, Marie Paz T. Abante, said.
DepEd Order No. 048, issued in 2018, prohibits the use of government resources, including personnel, time and properties for political purposes.
A political rally in Iloilo on Thursday had reportedly been called off after residents raised furor over the covering of the Guimbal National High School arc with a “Guimbal Stadium” tarpaulin sign to accommodate the said activity.
The Department of Education issued a memorandum to Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Roel Bermejo of its Western Visayas office over the allegation.
DepEd Regional Director Ramir Uytico directed the Schools Division of Iloilo to submit a report on the incident.
Abante said that it would save candidates’ camps trouble if they kept the prohibition on campaign rallies in schools in mind.
She also appealed to candidates not to include public school teachers in partisan activities in light of the prohibition.
DepEd Order No. 048, issued in 2018, prohibits the use of government resources, including personnel, time and properties for political purposes.
“Malaking perwisyo po ang pag-plano ulit dahil sa nakanselang mga lakad, buong schedule hanggang eleksyon ang naaapektuhan. Kaya ‘friendly advice’ na rin ito na iwasan na lang natin ang pagplano na magtanghal ng mga rally sa mga paaralan,” the long-time educator said.
She also appealed to candidates not to include public school teachers in partisan activities in light of the prohibition.
“Let’s protect our teachers. They are election frontliners and we must collectively act to ensure that our activities do not taint their reputations unnecessarily,” Abante said.
