Comelec to train over 186,000 teachers for 2025 polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will train in March over 186,000 teachers who will serve as electoral board (EB) members in the 2025 midterm elections.

During the briefing on the updates of the upcoming elections conducted on Friday, Comelec Human Resources and Technical Support Group head Dir. Margaret Ching said 186,574 EB members will be trained from March 3 to 31. 

“Based on feedback from several regions, especially from the bigger provinces such as Bulacan, the EB training will have to spill over to the first week of April due to the fact that we also have to harmonize our schedule with the Department of Education,” Ching said in her presentation. 

Republic Act No. 10756, or An Act Rendering Election Service Non-Compulsory for Public School Teachers, states that the Comelec may tap the assistance of the Department of Education’s non-teaching personnel and other government employees, as well as private school teachers, to render election-related services.

The Comelec will also train 9,766 Philippine National Police officers who will act as special EB members in case the poll officers can no longer serve on election day. 

Meanwhile, the three-month training for election workers began on Monday and will last until April.