CATBALOGAN CITY, Philippines — Samar Colleges, Inc. (SC) joined fellow Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Region VIII for the Simultaneous Flag Raising Ceremony held on May 18, 2026, via Zoom at the Main Library, in celebration of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) 32nd Anniversary and the 6th Higher Education Day.

The virtual event opened with a nationwide broadcast from the CHED National Office, officially launching the celebration anchored in this year’s national theme, "ACHIEVE – ing Knowledge Economy Together for a Future-Ready Bagong Pilipinas."

CHEDRO VIII Regional Director Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe delivered the opening remarks, where he emphasized to HEI leaders and personnel the importance of a unified effort toward building an innovative and future-ready education system.

In his message, Dr. Aljibe commended institutions in the region that produced topnotchers in the recently released results of the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), noting that a total of forty-six (46) topnotchers came from the region.

He also mentioned the growing international presence of Eastern Visayas HEIs, citing their consistent performance in global rankings such as World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), Times Higher Education (THE), and QS, further emphasizing the region’s growing contribution to the advancement of higher education in the country.

With the attendance of key officials, select administrative personnel, and faculty members from all departments, SC showed its support and cooperation in realizing CHED’s mission of shaping a progressive and inclusive higher education system across the country.