The document summarizes the outcomes of a regional higher education summit held in the Philippines. It discusses the resolutions and recommendations made by four clusters on issues in basic education, technical-vocational education, community colleges, and higher education. Overall, the clusters aimed to resolve problems in the education system and better align technical and vocational programs in response to education reforms.

1. Pledge of Commitment.
Signing the RHES V covenant,
NEDA Assistant Regional
Director Engr. Luis Banua
pledges to support the HEIs
in thier pursuit of reforms in
higher education on the last
day of the summit at The
Oriental Hotel. Photo by
Earl Epson L. Recamunda
Text by Camille Lyela A.
Regala
CHED, BFHE look forward for Summit 2014
T
he organizers of the first Regional
Higher Education (RHE) Summit,
Commission on Higher Education
Bikol Foundation for Higher education,
look forward for a part two after the
successful turnout of the event.
Commissioner on Higher Education
(CHED) V Director Freddie Bernal said in an
interview that next time, they can extend
partnership with other industry like the
Labor sectors, Chamber of Commerce, and
Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE).
“This is part of our convergence
so that we can produce more globally
competitive graduates,” Dr. Bernal stated.
He also acknowledged the contribution of
the sectors of education in realization of the
goals of the summit.
“Through the RDC and different line
agencies that are present here, we will followup with the adjustments on some policies and
strategies in terms of the implementation of
the education reform,” Dr. Bernal said.
Bikol Foundation of Higher
Education (BFHE) President, Dr. Faye Lea
Patria Lauraya said that she is satisfied of the
outputs presented by the four clusters during
the parallel and plenary session.
“These are the advantages of
gathering all sectors in one forum, the
reciprocity of the relationship can be formed
by promoting dialogues and communications
from the ground,” she quoted.
Participants from different Higher
Education Institutions (HEIS) also expressed
their impression and suggestions in the
summit.
Doctor Ronald Elicay, Ateneo de Naga
University (AdNU) College of Arts and
Sciences Assistant Dean, said that over- all,
the summit was successful. “It was successful
there are minor areas to be improved though
such as scheduling, systematic distribution of
food and other technical aspects” said Elicay.
ACSAT- Sorsogon Campus President, Ms.
Nerissa Rosanna Nicolas suggested “there
must be alignment of K12 vision that is
reflected in the Department of Education
(DepEd), Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) and HEIs
clusters.”
At the end of the summit, all the outputs
were endorsed to the Regional Development
Cluster (RDC) and was forwarded to
respective agencies. - Siera Lou Mata and
Abigail Tabuzo
HEIs to resolve program issues
T
he 1st Regional Higher
Education
Summit
cluster
workshops
transpired just in time to
resolve issues regarding
the impending effect of
K12 to tertiary levels and
emerging predicaments in
the Philippine education.
Basic Education Cluster
Disclosing the issues
surrounding the Basic Education
System in the Philippines and
discussing the appropriate
resolution, DepEd
School’s
Division Superintendent Tabaco
City –
Cecille Bernadette
Rivera presented a rundown
of problems, recommendations
and agreed solutions by the
clusters during the plenary
session of the summit.
Some important issues
raised include the following:
availability of the curriculum,
continuance of assistance for
scholars of private schools
during their 11th and 12th
year, and the availability of
special subjects in public
schools. Addressing on matters,
a resolution proposing the
adoption of the recommended
measures, such as the fast
release of SHS curriculum,
extension of GATSPE for
SHS, and free training and
assessment along Technical and
Vocational offerings between
TESDA and DepEd was passed.
The resolution passed
by the Basic Education sector
during the Regional Higher
Education Summit 2013 this
November 14, 2013 at the
Oriental Hotel, Legazpi City,
Philippines, was unanimously
agreed upon by the body.
Te c h n i c a l - Vo c a t i o n a l
Education Cluster
After a thorough
review and assessment of
issues regarding the Technical
Vocational Education (TechVoc),
Vocational
School
Superintendent
of
San
Francisco Institute of Science
and Technology Emmanuel R.
Sacayan presented the clusters’
output
from
yesterday’s
workshop.
HEIs to resolve...| Turn to back

2. HEIs to resolve...
Sacayan through a resolution
underscored the need to collaborate with
the Department of Education (DepEd) and
Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
for the implementation of RA 10533
formulated to address a major setback in
Philippine education which is to devise ways
in producing graduates with high level of
competencies.
The said resolution also responds
and relates
to matters raised during
the Technical Vocational Education on
Training (TVET) last October 6 such as
the determination of appropriate tech-voc
track, resources limitation, assessments,
preparations for upsurge in graduates,
coping with the two-year lull period,
formalizing TVIs involvement, proliferation
of unsubscribed programs and inadequate
training of trainers and assessors.
It was further stressed that an
enhanced basic education curriculum will
produce locally and globally competitive
Filipino graduates.
Community Colleges Cluster
The Local Colleges Cluster in the
Regional Higher Education Summit 2013
presented four different resolutions from
yesterday’s parallel discussion.
Dr.
Epifanio
Buela,
Schools
Division Superintendent and former College
Administrator of San Jose Community
College, specified four issues that need
compliance with the CMO No. 32 s. 2006
entitled Policies, Standards, and Guidelines
on the Operation of Local Colleges and DILG.
The main issues are as follows: 1) Fund
Allocation or the Capital; 2) Outlay Provision
of Community College Sites and Facilities; 3)
Creation of Plantilla Positions; 4) Provision of
Bicol University
Newsletter Team
Instructional Materials.
Buela emphasized the important
roles of community colleges in improving
Education
particularly
the
Higher
Education Sector. The cluster came up with
recommendations that involve Course
Offerings, Instructional Materials and
Facilities, and Finance.
After the assessment of issues and
recommendations, the cluster was able to
come up with the following resolutions:
•
Resolution no. 2 s. 2013
Resolution requesting local government units
with community colleges to appropriate
specific amount for capital outlay in the
annual budget as approved during the ALCO5
officers of region v 1st regular meeting on
October 24, 2013 at the CHED Regional Office
V (CHED ROV) Conference Room, Legazpi city
•
Resolution no. 3 s. 2013
Resolution requesting local government units
with community colleges to provide school
site and faculties to community colleges to
enhance the quality of higher education as
approved during the ALCO5 officers of region
v 1st regular meeting on October 24, 2013
at the CHED Regional Office V (CHED ROV)
Conference Room, Legazpi city
•
Resolution no. 4. S. 2013
Resolution urgently and strongly requesting
the local government units to create and
implement plantilla item positions in the
community colleges
•
Resolution no. 5 s. 2013
Resolution urgently requesting local
government units to provide instructional
materials and learning resources for the
community colleges in their respective areas
of jurisdiction as approved during the ALCO5
officers of region v 1st regular meeting on
October 24, 2013 at the CHED Regional Office
V (CHED ROV) Conference Room, Legazpi city
Higher Education Cluster
The Higher Education Cluster composed of
both public and private institutions came
up with a technical paper as an output of
yesterday’s parallel discussions.
Being the chairperson of PASUC Rwgion V
and president of Bicol Foundation for Higher
Education (BFHE), Dr. Fay Lea Patria M.
Lauraya presented the output during this
morning’s plenary session.
The cluster focused on issues,
recommendations, and the identification of
agencies responsible for monitoring quality
and excellence, efficiency and effectiveness,
relevance and responsiveness, access and
equity, and other factors.
One of the issues addressed by the
cluster was that most graduate programs
are only levels I and II-accredited except for
two State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
with five programs each, with Level III
accreditation. In response to this issue, the
group recommends for the monitoring and
implementation of tighter regulations as well
as the provision of support mechanism for
accreditation of graduate programs in both
private and public schools.
Another issue tackled was the
inability of some qualified students to
pursue graduate studies or complete their
degrees due to financial constraints. The
cluster recommended for Higher Education
Institutes (HEIs), Government Offices (GOs),
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs),
Local Government Units (LGUs), and private
groups to provide scholarships, subsidies,
and loans. - Jessica Rae Nolasco, Joan
Marcia Navarra, Camille Lyela Regala and
Rexiene Borilla
Zanie Jovellana
Jessica Rae Nolasco
Camille Lyela Regala
Siera Lou Mata
Abigail Tabuzo
Joan Marcia Navarra
Rexiene Borilla
Leo Sirios Jr
Advisers:
Dr. Agnes Jacob- Nepomuceno
Dr. Ma. Celina G. Meneses
Dr. Ma. Julieta Borres.
Presenters of the plenary session discuss the resolutions and recommendations of each cluster.