It’s about time to give something back to the brave teachers who will serve in the upcoming May 2010 national elections.

Great news for all our beloved teachers!

A memorandum of agreement (MoA) has been inked between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to make their commitment official to provide legal assistance to public school teachers, free of charge who may be encountering legal suits in the performance of their election-related responsibilities.

Recently assigned Education Secretary Dr. Mona D. Valisno stated that there have been occurrences during elections where teachers, in the performance of their election duties, are mistakenly charged of misconduct and are unjustifiably faced with legal suits.

“We express our deep appreciation to IBP for such a generous act as this will reassure our teachers who are committed to protect the integrity of the elections,” she said.

Valisno headed DepEd in signing the contract with IBP, represented by Justice Santiago Kapunan, officer-in-charge; and Atty. Rodolfo Urbiztondo, deputy general counsel and chief of staff. Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Franklin Sunga, Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Jonathan Malaya, some regional directors, and representatives from a variety of teachers’ organizations were also present at the agreement signing.

The DepEd is ordered by law to create obtainable the services of public school teachers who will hand round as chairmen and members of the different board of election inspectors (BEI) in the forthcoming May 10, 2010 national and local elections.

According to Valisno, the MoA will situate the dealings on how such free legal assistance could be quickly availed by affected public school teachers.

“The MoA arises from our desire to promote and protect the welfare of the public school teachers who will again play a key role in this democratic exercise,” she said.

Justice Kapunan also stated that the agreement evidently specifies IBP’s vow to DepEd to supply free legal assistance to public school teachers who will be charged administratively and criminally in the performance of their election duties.

“IBP lawyers are idealistic volunteers serving the needs of teachers involved in the election. We are happy to do it for free, contrary to what other people think that lawyers are only after the money,” Kapunan added.