Teachers in BARMM ready to Support the 2025 National and Local Elections

COTABATO CITY (March 27, 2025) — The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) has announced that it has submitted a list of 10,512 teachers, accounting for 53% of the total teaching workforce, who are willing to serve in the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).

The official list was submitted to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Friday, March 21, highlighting the commitment of BARMM educators to support the democratic process despite facing various challenges.

The MBHTE noted that while it has taken proactive steps to facilitate participation, including the implementation of the MBHTE Administrative Support System to encourage voluntary service, the decision to participate is complex. Previous elections saw low volunteer numbers partly due to security concerns.

The ministry emphasized that teachers in BARMM have long faced threats and intimidation during election duties, contributing to their reluctance to volunteer. Additionally, persistent issues with coordination between COMELEC election officers and authorized MBHTE officials have further increased apprehension among teachers regarding their safety and the overall efficiency of the election process. “While COMELEC is responsible for overseeing the election, the ministry has had to take it upon itself to ensure that its workforce is properly supported and protected,” the MBHTE stated.

To address these concerns and encourage teacher participation, the MBHTE has established specific guidelines for the 2025 NLE. These guidelines include directly soliciting volunteers through the MBHTE Administrative Support System. Interested teachers’ names are certified by school heads, verified by the MBHTE main office, and then endorsed to the Regional Director, with copies sent to provincial, municipal, and city election officers. This thorough process ensures the confidentiality of teachers’ information and their safety.

The MBHTE pointed out that these measures are necessary due to the lack of sufficient guarantees from COMELEC regarding the safety of teachers serving as poll workers. The education ministry believes that these efforts not only demonstrate the region’s commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections but also highlight the critical role educators play in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday)