Tacloban City – Samar Colleges, Inc. participated in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Assessment for 2024 and Target Setting for 2025 held on April 14-15, 2025, at Hotel de Estrella, Tacloban City. The event gathered presidents and heads of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) along with Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) focal persons to review program performance and set strategic goals for scholarship grants.
Mr. Rhett Caesar L. Piczon, Chairman of the Board and School President, attended the first day of the event, where CHED presented updates on key concerns on the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC), including the Joint Memorandum Circular with the Professional Regulation Commission, Engineering Licensure Examinations, and the status of closed or phased-out Teacher Education Programs.
The session also covered the Audit Observation Memorandum and liquidation of funds, during which CHED recognized five HEIs for submitting liquidation reports ahead of schedule, namely, Eastern Visayas State University – Ormoc, Palompon Institute of Technology – Main, Sto. Niño College of Ormoc, JE Mondejar Computer College, and Bato Institute of Science and Technology.
Representing the school president on the second day were Mr. Jerick C. Cuevas, OIC Dean of Student Affairs and Services, and Ms. Cherry Angelie G. Florentino, Scholarship Programs Coordinator.
During the session, CHED presented the 2024 UniFAST accomplishments, 2025 targets, and unliquidated funds.
Highlights of the second day included an orientation on the revised guidelines for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under Memorandum Circular No. 2, Series of 2024, and for the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) under Memorandum Circular No. 3, Series of 2024, which aimed to ensure HEIs are informed of the latest policies and requirements related to student financial assistance.
One of the significant updates is the implementation of bank and electronic transfers as official disbursement modes for grants. This change is expected to make the claiming process more efficient and accessible, particularly for student grantees who are unable to claim funds in person.
Samar Colleges, Inc. was commended during the event for achieving zero pending liquidation reports for 2024, having successfully liquidated a total of ₱14,195,545.
This milestone underscores the institution’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective management of scholarship programs.
Through consistent compliance with CHED policies, Samar Colleges, Inc. continues to prioritize the needs of its student grantees, helping them access educational opportunities and achieve a brighter future.