01/09/2026
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐
๐จ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ, ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐
Presidents, Vice Presidents, Campus Administrators, Board Secretaries, and Executive Assistants from 22 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) under the charge of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Desiderio R. Apag III convened for the 3rd SUCs Executive Forum, hosted by the University of Rizal System (URS), Morong Campus, Rizal, from September 1 to 3, 2026.
The three-day executive forum served as a platform for SUC leaders to exchange experiences, share institutional best practices and strengthen collaboration.
A major highlight of the forum was the State of the 22 SUCs Address (SUSA) delivered by Commissioner Apag, where he underscored his direction of making government and university processes more accessible, and environmentally responsible through digital transformation.
Commissioner Apag emphasized the importance of transitioning to paperless systems, particularly in the conduct of Board meetings.
โMoving to our paperless board meetings can help reduce the use of printed materials and make document management easier when ensuring the board members can find the agenda documents they need in one organized system. The E-Agenda System Portal is one of the practical steps toward a more digital, connected, and paperless approach to board governance,โ Commissioner Apag said.
He further emphasized that digital systems must continuously evolve in response to the actual operational needs of SUCs.
โAs we continue to improve the system based on actual operational needs, it can better support our goal of building a smart office that is data-driven, responsive, and capable of managing the growing demands of our work,โ he said.
Commissioner Apag cited the integration of various digital initiatives, including the E-Agenda System Portal, Travel Authority System, and SUC Assessment Travel Environment Portal, as concrete manifestations of the direction toward smarter and more connected government offices.
โWhen we look at these systems together, we can clearly see the direction you are building in the office,โ he added.
The CHED Commissioner stressed that the ultimate objective is to establish a smart office that is organized, responsible, and prepared to address the increasing demands of the modern higher education sector.
โWe want information to be easier to access, requests to be easier to track, processes to be easier to manage, and technology to provide practical solutions to our concerns,โ Commissioner Apag said.
The forum also featured the showcase of best practices from the Bukidnon State University, University of Antique, and Davao Oriental State University, highlighting innovative institutional initiatives that may be adapted and replicated by other SUCs.
Another significant component of the gathering was the Commitment Signing Ceremony and SMART SUCs Declaration, symbolizing the collective commitment of the participating institutions to pursue digitalization and continuous institutional improvement.
The activity also provided an avenue for all participating University and College Presidents to share their experiences, challenges, and aspirations during the Roundtable Discussion.
The exchange fostered meaningful dialogue among SUC leaders and encouraged the sharing of practical solutions and strategies in addressing common institutional concerns.
The 3rd SUCs Executive Forum underscored the importance of collaboration among state universities and colleges in advancing a higher education sector that is not only responsive to present challenges but also prepared for the demands of a rapidly changing and increasingly digital world.
Through the collective vision of SUC leaders and the guidance of CHED, the forum reaffirmed the commitment of the 22 participating institutions to building SMART SUCs that is more accessible, and sustainable institutions committed to quality public higher education.
