19/10/2026
๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ,
๐๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ก ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐
The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office I (CHED RO1) held annual ASEAN Conference as part of the Timpuyog ti Amianan 2026 at the University of Northern Philippines, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, last Oct. 5, 2026.
Higher education institutions (HEI) Presidents, officials, and student-delegates attended the meeting with over 200 participants.
CHED RO1 Director Dr. Cherrie Melanie Ancheta-Diego, CESO III, highlighted the key achievements of Region I higher education institutions (HEIs) in her speech, emphasizing the need to translate these milestones into concrete actions aligned with the Inclusive and Impact-Driven Internationalization pillar of the CHED 2030 ACHIEVE Agenda.
Meanwhile, CHED RO1 Chief Education Program Specialist Dr. Danilo B. Bose mentioned that โpanagtitimpuyog,โ or unity, among HEIs, inspires collaboration and shared commitment in advancing internationalization efforts and enhancing the global competitiveness of higher education in Region I.
Ms. Lerie Queyquep-Huelgas represented Foreign Affairs Secretary Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro as she delivered the keynote address, encouraging Filipinos to be active members of the ASEAN community.
โCircling back to [the Philippinesโ] chairship theme, let us remember that we navigate together because our challenges cross borders. We innovate together because knowledge grows through collaboration. We invest in education together because ASEANโs future ultimately depends on the capabilities, aspirations, and values of its people,โ she said.
Also speaking in the opening conference were Ilocos Sur Community College Administrator Dr. Roel Palo Anicas, Tourism Regional Director Benjamin D. Manahan, Jr., CHED International Affairs Service Director Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, and ASEAN Quality Assurance Network President Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho.
โAs we strengthen our workforce, we strengthen the institution. As we strengthen the institution, we create better opportunities for our students...,โ Dr. Anicas said.
Dir. Manahan emphasized that to prepare Region 1 for a more ASEAN-connected future, there is also a need to protect what makes our region truly special.
"That is our heritage, our environment, our food, our communities, and our identity."
Moreover, Dr. Ferrer stressed that the goal of CHED is not simply to create more internationally-connected universities, but to create more responsible universities.
โComing together is really one of the best things happening todayโฆwe create elbow room for us to share our experiences with transparency and honesty. We think of how we harmonize our initiatives, our standards, our principles so that the possibility of increasing student mobility, employability, and all, will really be the product of all this conversation,โ said Dr. Ho.
The conference forms part of CHEDRO1โs ASEAN Month celebration, alongside the inaugural ASEAN Competitions, composed of seven contests for students, faculty, and staff.
Photo credits to the University of Northern Philippines
