On September 23, 2025, senior leaders from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) paid a courtesy visit to Department of Education Secretary Hon. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara. The PAASCU team, led by Board of Trustees President Br. Bernard S. Oca, FSC, Vice President Dr. Cecile B. Gutierrez, and Trustees Dr. Ma. Cynthia Rose B. Bautista and Fr. Mauricio T. Ulep, CMF, was joined by Basic Education Commission Chairs Mr. Rafael M. Patrick Pecjo, Mr. Ringo M. Blanca, Dr. Monina M. Manalang, and Executive Director Mr. Ricardo R. Palo.
Secretary Angara and his leadership group graciously welcomed PAASCU, demonstrating a genuine openness to partnership and dialogue. During productive discussions, the Secretary reaffirmed DEPED’s desire to work with external partners to raise the quality of basic education across the country. PAASCU, in turn, shared its commitment to quality improvement through voluntary accreditation, updates on its ISO 2025 certification, its submission of a position paper on assessment that was submitted to EDCOM II, and new initiatives incorporating artificial intelligence into accreditation practice.
Both parties acknowledged advances in quality assurance and recognized ongoing challenges, including inconsistencies in accreditation benefit policy implementation and the need to expand the reach of accreditation among basic education institutions. Most importantly, the meeting sparked candid discussions about creative solutions and future collaboration, particularly on quality assurance.
PAASCU is deeply appreciative of the warm hospitality shown by Secretary Angara and his office, and values their openness to building stronger partnerships. Looking ahead, PAASCU welcomes joint efforts with DEPED to deliver innovative activities and strategies that will assure and elevate the quality of the country’s basic education programs. It is the shared hope that these collaborations will help every Filipino student thrive in a learning environment held to the highest standards of accountability and excellence.
