National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional directors with NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro (front row, left) during the refresher seminar on roles and responsibilities in the governing boards of SUCs last August 27-29 at the Richmonde Hotel in Pasig City.

Some 25 officers of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) central and regional offices took a refresher seminar on the roles and responsibilities of the governing boards of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) conducted by the Development Academy of the Philippines’ (DAP) Center for Governance last August 27-29 at the Richmonde Hotel in Pasig City.

The three-day seminar aimed to enhance the capabilities of NEDA regional directors in performing their oversight function as members of the boards of regents and trustees in their assigned SUCs. It is envisioned to jumpstart initiatives in the country’s higher education governance with innovation in mind.

NEDA Undersecretary Adoracion Navarro, in her welcome remarks, said that the seminar was first conducted in 2011 during the time of former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga, Jr. and has been deemed necessary since then. She underscored two motivations for the refresher seminar.  First, the entry of newly appointed regional directors and assistant regional Directors in 2018. Second, the various developments in tertiary education since 2011, including the free tuition policy.

The seminar’s resource persons included University of the Philippines’(UP) Vice President for Finance and Planning Joselito Florendo, Commission on Higher Education-Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (CHED-UNIFAST) OIC-Executive Director Carmelita Yadao-Sison,  former CHED Commissioner Alex Brillantes, former UP President Emerlinda Roman, and former Government Procurement Policy Board Technical Support Office Executive Director Dennis Santiago. – Mardy Gonzales