Nearly 1,400 teachers in General Santos City will serve as members of the electoral board during the 2025 national and local elections, according to the Department of Education (DepEd)-GenSan.

These teachers will be assigned to 55 polling centers in 26 barangays in the city.

Meanwhile, 54 non-teaching personnel, including school heads, will also assist during the electoral process.

DepEd-GenSan said the teachers underwent examinations and competency training conducted by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

DepEd-GenSan is also addressing the needs at the polling centers such as light bulbs, among others. The agency will also provide emergency lights should there be power interruptions on the election day.

“As of now, yung mga issues and concerns natin ay yung mga provision ng mga extension wires sa schools kasi ang iba na mga machines ay hindi sa classrooms at malayo doon sa outlet… Ang mga teachers po natin ay magdadala na din po ng mga flashlights nila para masigurong in place na po tayo in case may interruptions sa power ay tuloy tuloy pa rin ang botohan sa polling precincts,” DepEd-GenSan Assistant Schools Division Superitendent, Mervie Seblos, said.

DepEd-GenSan is also set to form an election task force to monitor and evaluate the electoral process.

“Ang trabaho po ng election task force ay to monitor the conduct of the election of course and evaluate the conduct of election kaya May 11 pa lang duty na kami to ensure na yun ating polling precincts at polling centers are available, accessible, and very ready for the upcoming elections,” Seblos added.

Meanwhile, a total of 425 automated counting machines (ACM) were delivered to the ACM hub at Lagao Gymnasium in Barangay Lagao on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Aside from ACMs, batteries and the official ballots have also arrived.

COMELEC-GenSan is set to conduct the final testing and sealing of ACMs on May 7.

“The final testing and sealing, the purpose of that activity is to conduct a diagnostic of the automated counting machine, to test its functionality and readiness for the election. If the electoral board discovers defect in the machine itself or in the peripheral at least we still have time to solve the problem, to remedy, to repair the ACM before the elections,” COMELEC-GenSan Election Officer, Atty. Sittie Sharmaine Papandayan-Garangan, said.

The poll body also said that law enforcement agencies have already put security measures in place to safeguard the ACMs.