CHED Regional Office I congratulates Dr. Virgilio Julius Paraoan Manzano, Jr. for having been elected as the 8th President of Mariano Marcos State University.

Your exemplary leadership and dedication to higher education will undoubtedly bring continued success and innovation to the university.

We extend our best wishes for a transformative and impactful leadership journey!

With renewed vigor, the Philippine Association for Graduate Education – Region 1 Chapter (PAGE-I) convened for a planning session with the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 1 (CHED ROI) at the HEDF Building Conference Room, Sevilla, City of San Fernando, La Union on February 11, 2025.

Dr. Caridad Oli Abuan, PAGE-I President, led discussions on the upcoming graduate education conference, which aims to equip higher education institutions (HEIs) with solutions to prevailing challenges in graduate studies.
Key topics will focus on enhancing research publication capabilities, integrating artificial intelligence and other digital tools, and addressing emerging trends in postgraduate education.

The said topics emerged from the presentation of Dr. Al Gerald Barde, CHED ROI Education Supervisor and PAGE-I Adviser, indicating the key findings from CHED’s monitoring of graduate education programs in the region.
Research and poster presentations, featuring studies aligned with the event’s central theme — which will soon be officially announced — will be the highlight of the conference.

Dr. Rowena De Guzman, Secretary, and Dr. Marilou Agustin, Assistant Secretary, reported that conference attendees would be eligible for 10 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units.
Dr. Marvin Campit, Vice-President, expressed his full support for the initiative, pledging to encourage faculty members and graduate students to participate actively.

Another critical agenda was the invitation extended to state universities and colleges (SUCs) with established academic journals to assist private HEI instructors and students in their publication efforts.

Dr. Abuan encouraged officers to contribute further ideas for future projects.
One notable proposal was the development of PAGE-I’s own journal and an accompanying e-journal website, providing a dedicated platform for graduate students and faculty to publish their research.

Dr. Napoleon Meimban, Board of Directors Member, also discussed the possibility of establishing a set of criteria for internal and external reviewers, which will then lead to the creation of a pool of peer reviewers in the region.

Dr. Barde relayed a message from CHED ROI Director IV, Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, highlighting the planned creation of an Ethics Board in each graduate school and benchmarking activities to learn best practices from other regions.

Before the adjournment, Dr. Abuan and the PAGE-I officers extended their gratitude to CHED ROI for its continued support and partnership in advancing graduate education in the region.

𝘣𝘺 𝘈.𝘎. 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦

Saint Louis College (SLC) has been awarded Level 2 Recognition in the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Quality Award (PQA) Regionalization Program, as announced today, February 7, 2025.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero “Popoy” E. De Vera III and Atty. Ryan Estevez, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Executive Director, toured inside the newly established Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC) on February 7, 2025.

Chair De Vera and Atty. Estevez toured the facilities and discussed future plans for the institution.

The visit underscores CHED’s support for local universities and colleges (LUCs) initiatives and is part of an effort to strengthen collaboration between the national government and educational institutions.

The PPC is one of the newest LUCs in the region, offering bachelor’s degree programs including Bachelor of Multimedia Arts, Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business, and Bachelor of Public Administration Major in Local Governance. In addition to these degree programs, PPC provides various short courses through its Center for Lifelong Learning (CeLL).

PPC was created through the initiative of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan under the leadership of Governor Ramon “Mon-mon” Guico III.

: Prof Popoy De Vera

To contribute in strengthening the internationalization reputation of the country, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 1 (CHED ROI) attended the CHED International Affairs Service (CHED IAS) 2025 Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Planning Session at Twin Lakes Hotel, Tagaytay City, on February 3-6, 2025.

Atty. Lily Freida M. Milla, Director IV of CHED IAS and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director IV, emphasized the need to enhance the implementation of internationalization and transnational higher education, highlighting areas for further improvement.

The four-day planning was anchored in the four pillars of the IZN Roadmap: sector, institutions, systems, and persons, which are relevant to the key performance indicators for internationalization under the CHED Strategic Plan.

Dr. Al Gerald S. Barde, Education Supervisor II, and Ms. Ailene B. Flores, TNHE Regional Officer, presented CHED ROI’s 2024 accomplishments, which also served as a mean to benchmark best practices on IZN activities from other regions.

Furthermore, priority activities and projects were presented to ensure alignment with KPIs for internationalization.

Dr. Myrna Mallari and Dr. Allan Cajes of the National Review Committee on CHED-funded Internationalization Programs (iNRC) graced the event and assisted CHED ROs regarding their accomplishments and proposed activities.

CHED ROI also committed to co-hosting upcoming CHED International Affairs Service projects and events this year.

The planning session was attended by IZN Focal and TNHE Officers from all regions of the country.

In line with our commitment to support the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3, which emphasizes good health and well-being in higher education institutions, we proudly present the kaPADyak Advocacy Campaign Challenge.

The kaPADyak Advocacy Campaign Challenge aims to engage the academic community in innovative and meaningful activities that highlight the importance of advocacy campaigns and fitness as positive alternatives to drug use.

Full details of the competitions are available through this link: https://bit.ly/KapadyakAdvocacyCampaignChallenge2025

Dr. Danilo B. Bose, Chief Education Program Specialist; and Engr. Angelica Q. Dolores, Supervising Education Program Specialist of CHED Regional Office 1 (CHED ROI) graced the ISO Certification Awarding Ceremony of Universidad de Dagupan (UdD) on January 17, 2025.
On behalf of Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, Director IV of CHED ROI, Dr. Bose delivered her congratulatory message to the entire community of UdD, highlighting UdD’s efforts in ensuring that its processes and outcomes remain competitive on a global scale.
“Thank you UdD for listening to the demands of education and for your proactive approach to responding and adapting to areas which needs your actions for the betterment of your institution and as part of the education sector,” Dr. Bose shared.
UdD recently received its ISO 21001:2018 Certification for Education Organization Management Systems which is particularly relevant and appropriate to the higher education sector as it provides a framework for quality management, learner-centered approaches, and continuous improvement.
📷: Universidad de Dagupan

Under the bright lights of the Education Night at the Vigan City Fiesta and Longganisa Festival, Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, Director IV of CHED Regional Office 1, shared and inspired her fellow educators through her leadership journey.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Dr. Ferrer’s journey in education has been one of passion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to shaping the future. From starting as a teacher—never imagining she would one day lead CHEDRO1—her path has been defined by a deep-seated belief that education is more than just lessons in a classroom.

“I am driven by the idea that education was more than just imparting knowledge. It is about shaping lives, guiding students toward becoming their best selves, and preparing them for a world that is ever-evolving,” she shared, reflecting on her transformative journey.

Her extensive experience—as a teacher, researcher, extension worker, and internationalization advocate—has given her a broad and holistic perspective on education. Whether engaging in research, working with communities, or leading internationalization efforts, Dr. Ferrer has consistently pushed boundaries, proving that learning is a lifelong endeavor.

At the heart of her message was a call for a collaborative approach—a unified effort between DepEd, TESDA, and CHED—to ensure a seamless transition between basic education, technical-vocational training, and higher education.

“We need to integrate outcomes-based and competency-based education to align with industry needs and global standards,” she emphasized, highlighting the need for education to be both responsive and future-ready.

Educators from across Vigan City gathered to witness the discussion. In a world that continues to evolve, Dr. Ferrer’s vision stands as a reminder that education must not only keep pace but lead the way.

Dr. Al Gerald Barde, Education Supervisor and Focal for Culture and Arts of the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office I (CHED ROI), attended the Joint Tourism Council and Local Culture and Arts Council meeting at the San Fernando City (SFC) Hall on January 27, 2025.
On behalf of City Mayor Hermenegildo “Dong” Gualberto, Councilor Mark Anthony Ducusin presided over the meeting.
Discussions focused on strategic initiatives to enhance the city’s tourism and cultural programs, reports on council accomplishments and ongoing projects under the 2025 Tourism and Cultural Agenda, and collaborative activities within the CREATE Your San Fernando Elyu Framework.
City officials reaffirmed their commitment to integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into tourism, culture, and arts initiatives.
Moreover, the C.R.E.A.T.E. Your San Fernando ELYU UNSDG Innovation Center, launched on October 11, 2024, is set to intensify its efforts in supporting creative industries and local artists.
Dr. Barde expressed CHED ROI’s support to the city’s goal of becoming a UNESCO Creative City for Media Arts as he emphasized the agency’s advocacy for internationalization in higher education institutions (HEIs) through global citizenship education and SDG integration.
He also proposed collaborations with HEIs in the city to explore the potential offering of academic programs aligned with creative industries, such as Bachelor of Multimedia Arts, Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education, and Bachelor of Fine Arts.
“The HEIs in the city currently do not offer courses directly related to culture and arts. You may use your data to assess the need for these programs and initiate discussions with them. The city can also support HEIs by providing talents and sharing facilities,” Dr. Barde said.
To further promote educational tourism, he also suggested including HEIs in the city’s tour itineraries, citing that some institutions hold the status of Centers of Development and Excellence and are internationally ranked or rated.
𝘣𝘺 𝘈.𝘎. 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦

As part of its quality assurance mandate, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office I (CHED ROI) technical team, led by Dr. Danilo Bose, Chief Education Program Specialist, conducted an assessment Ilocos Sur Community College’s (ISCC) compliance with Institutional Recognition (IR) requirements and the alignment of its academic programs with CHED policies and standards in Bantay, Ilocos Sur on January 16, 2025.
Joining Dr. Bose, Dr. Al Gerald Barde, Education Supervisor and Focal Person for Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), examined key IR aspects such as ISCC’s mandate and purpose, governance structure, facility adequacy, and operational sustainability, in accordance with CHED Memorandum Order No. 18, s. 2022.
For the HEI’s program offerings, the following CHED ROI supervisors conducted the assessment: Dr. Ricky Cera for BS in Agribusiness Management and BS in Cooperative Management programs; Mr. Arnold Ancheta for BS in Hospitality Management program; Mr. Albert Subang for BS in Information Technology program; and Dr. Maria Carmela Domocmat for the BS in Midwifery program.
Dr. Bose underscored the importance of complying with IR requirements to ensure ISCC’s continued eligibility for free higher education benefits under Republic Act No. 10931.
During the exit conference, Dr. Bose and Dr. Barde presented a detailed discussion of the findings based on the evaluation tool developed by the Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance (OIQAG).
They also engaged with Mr. Amador Rojo, ISCC Officer-in-Charge, and other HEI officials in exploring strategies to address identified concerns.
Furthermore, the education supervisors also shared their program assessment results, highlighting areas for improvement and recommending measures to enhance institutional effectiveness while sustaining best practices.
𝘣𝘺 𝘈.𝘎. 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦