05/08/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ
Echague, Isabela - Committed to bringing higher education opportunities, services, and policy discussions closer to the community, the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office II (CHEDRO II) participated in the LegisHear: โBawat Batas Mahalagaโ held from July 31 to August 1, 2026 at the Isabela State University โ Echague Campus.
Spearheaded by the House of Representatives under the leadership of House Speaker Hon. Faustino โBojieโ G. Dy III, the event served as a nationwide public engagement initiative aimed at fostering meaningful dialogue between the government and the public. It featured discussions on the countryโs legislative process, the proposed Kalinga Bill (HB 9305), and Rice Tarrification Law.
The event also included Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) that gathered citizensโ feedback on government programs and services, identified policy gaps, and generated evidence-based recommendations to support future policy reforms.
Representing CHEDRO II were Dr. Almacita P. Abrigo, Chief Education Supervising Specialist, and Ms. Jocelyn B. Balanag, Department Legislative Liaison Specialist of the CHED Legal and Legislative Services. They facilitated the FGD attended by seventeen (17) representatives from various sectors.
During the session, CHEDRO II provided a comprehensive overview and intricacies of CHEDโs key programs and services, including scholarship and grants-in-aid initiatives. They addressed participantsโ inquiries, and facilitated meaningful discussions that resulted in the identification of key challenges and policy recommendations to further strengthen the higher education programs and services.
Complementing its role in the policy dialogue, CHEDRO II, through its Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Unit, Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) Unit, and Graduate Studies Unit (GSU), in partnership with the Isabela State University โ Echague Campus delivered various frontline services. These included the onsite payout of TES grants; orientation for prospective applicants to the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho), Medical Scholarship and Return Service (MSRS) program, and Scholarships for Staff and Instructorsโ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP). The team also conducted interviews with beneficiaries of the CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP).
CHEDRO IIโs participation in the LegisHear 2026 re-affirmed its commitment to advancing responsive governance and delivering accessible, inclusive, and people-centered higher education and services throughout the region. (AMM)