A teachers’ group on Wednesday, May 5, called on the government to ensure a stable power supply for upcoming elections and in the coming months for the benefit of schools and learners nationwide.

“We are gravely concerned over the threat of power outages in the Philippines in the coming months,” said the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) in a statement.

“These brownouts are significant threats to the quality of education and the quality of life in the country,” the group added.

TDC pointed out that the “staggered brownouts in the coming months would mean there will be staggered, or no internet connection in our schools.”

The group raised this concern since the Department of Education (DepEd) has required all its teaching personnel to stay in schools during their teaching hours every day.

“It would also mean that households, where learners are expected to join online classes or accomplish their learning modules would have intermittent power service and internet services,” the group said.

TDC also noted that both students and teachers will be affected which would also influence the learning outcomes.

“How can we promote quality education when the infrastructure required for it is essentially faulty?” the group asked.

TDC added that this concern resonates as well to the teachers as the backbone of the upcoming elections. Based on DepEd data, over 647,000 personnel of the agency will serve as poll workers during the election day on May 9.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/29/deped-over-640k-personnel-to-serve-as-poll-workers-for-may-9-elections/

“The heat of the summer poses health risks to those assigned in precincts during this momentous phase in our history,” TDC said.

To “uphold the democratic hallmark of elections,” TDC has taken the opportunity to call on concerned government agencies to ensure that their colleagues are supported through an ample supply of electricity.

“It is imperative, and the duty of the government, to support our teachers who shall facilitate the conduct of elections nationwide,” TDC said.

TDC then called on the private sector, such as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), and the sector that generates electricity to do their role in ensuring a stable supply through power reserves across the country.

“It is our hope that these stakeholders responsibly comply with all laws, regulations, and directives designed to prevent power outages and ensure a continuous electricity service,” TDC said.

The group also called on President Duterte, the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to “ensure that power outages in the country will not occur” --- most especially during the week of the elections onwards.