By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) have set up national hotlines for poll workers who will encounter issues and concerns in the performing their election duties.
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) and Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines
(MANILA BULLETIN)
ACT said that it will “monitor and respond to concerns on teacher-poll workers' rights and welfare, and election-related fraud and violence.” Its election hotlines are (02) 283 9669, 0929 720 8193 and 0956 067 9186.
TDC has also partnered with Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) for election hotline for teachers. The TDC office in Valenzuela City and the LENTE Office in Quezon City will also serve as the command post/or monitoring center for the 2019 midterm elections and “will document reports, complaints and feedback of teachers and the general public.”
It also opens from May 12 up to May 14.TDC hotline numbers are (02) 6920296/ 0916-6126739/ and 0942-1883814 and LENTE hotline numbers are (02) 5021591 and 0917-1066265/0947-1644158.
TDC Secretary General Emmalyn Policarpio said the group will accommodate reports from teachers and other concerned individuals to monitor the situation in the field.
“As a teacher myself, who served as member of board of election inspectors (BEI) in the past, I have also experienced harassment and stressful tasks during elections and help was not readily available for us,” Policarpio, a teacher from Gen. T. De Leon Elementary School in Valenzuela City, said.
“With this initiative, we believe that we can help our fellow teachers, those who are manning the polls that are likely to encounter problems with voters, watchers, candidates and even machines,” she added.
Both groups enjoin teachers – especially for members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) – and voters to report any untoward incidents like harassment, cheating, intimidation, emergency situation or any election-related concerns. #MatalinongBoto2019