UP CEDEV goes to Iloilo to hold discussion on GE reframing

13 Jul 2026

The University of the Philippines Center for Education and Development (UP CEDEV) brought the third installment of its panel discussion series on General Education (GE) to Iloilo City on 11 July 2026. Held in partnership with UP Visayas and the West Visayas State University (WVSU), the discussion served as a collective space to discuss the ongoing national debates surrounding the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposed reframing of the GE curriculum.

From left: CHED Director Jimmy Catanes; Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla of West Visayas State University; Arnold Rago of Iloilo City Community College; Merle Junsay of Central Philippine University; and CHED Technical Panel for General Education Chairperson Edizon Fermin engage in a discussion regarding the proposed reframing of the GE curriculum, moderated by UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alice Joan Ferrer (rightmost).

Held at the WVSU Cultural Center, the panel discussion examined how GE is implemented across different institutional settings, from the state universities and colleges (SUCs), to the local universities and colleges (LUCs), and to the private HEIs.

The panel featured Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla, WVSU Vice President for Academic Affairs; Merle Junsay, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Central Philippine University; and Arnold Rago, OIC-President of Iloilo City Community College. Representing CHED were Edizon Fermin, Vice President for Academic Affairs of the National Teachers College and Chairperson of the CHED Technical Panel for General Education, and Jimmy Catanes, Director of the Office of Programs and Standards Development.

UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alice Joan Ferrer served as panel moderator.

Representatives expressed the varied opportunities and constraints their respective sectors encounter in their operationalization of GE. A common concern shared was the perceived operational and financial strain that will be caused by the displacement of a large percentage of faculty and staff, and the necessary retraining and upskilling to adapt to the reframed curriculum.

Catanes clarified that CHED’s proposed 18-unit curriculum is not yet final, pending the Commission’s expanded consultation process involving students, faculty, professional organizations, industry partners, and technical panels to further deliberate the most appropriate framework.

Addressing anxieties raised in multiple position papers submitted to the Commission, Fermin assured that CHED regulations serve strictly as minimum standards. The framework does not dictate pedagogy, syllabi, or institutional identity. He said that the technical panel designed the reframing to preserve GE’s value against legislative crosswinds that initially sought to abolish it entirely.

UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco (center) with the attendees of the panel discussion on GE reframing at West Visayas State University, Iloilo City.

Fermin stated that there is no directive to enforce a new curriculum immediately by 2027. Stakeholder consultations will continue until late 2026. He said that a pilot phase may be envisioned for the 2027-2028 academic year, following the insights from the expanded consultation process.

Written by John Peter Himor

UP CEDEV goes to Iloilo to hold discussion on GE reframing

The University of the Philippines Center for Education and Development (UP CEDEV) brought the third installment of its panel discussion series on General Education (GE) to Iloilo City on 11 July 2026. Held in partnership with UP Visayas and the West Visayas State University (WVSU), the discussion served as a collective space to discuss the ongoing national debates surrounding the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposed reframing of the GE curriculum.

From left: CHED Director Jimmy Catanes; Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla of West Visayas State University; Arnold Rago of Iloilo City Community College; Merle Junsay of Central Philippine University; and CHED Technical Panel for General Education Chairperson Edizon Fermin engage in a discussion regarding the proposed reframing of the GE curriculum, moderated by UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alice Joan Ferrer (rightmost).

Held at the WVSU Cultural Center, the panel discussion examined how GE is implemented across different institutional settings, from the state universities and colleges (SUCs), to the local universities and colleges (LUCs), and to the private HEIs.

The panel featured Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla, WVSU Vice President for Academic Affairs; Merle Junsay, Vice President for Academic Affairs of Central Philippine University; and Arnold Rago, OIC-President of Iloilo City Community College. Representing CHED were Edizon Fermin, Vice President for Academic Affairs of the National Teachers College and Chairperson of the CHED Technical Panel for General Education, and Jimmy Catanes, Director of the Office of Programs and Standards Development.

UP Visayas Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Alice Joan Ferrer served as panel moderator.

Representatives expressed the varied opportunities and constraints their respective sectors encounter in their operationalization of GE. A common concern shared was the perceived operational and financial strain that will be caused by the displacement of a large percentage of faculty and staff, and the necessary retraining and upskilling to adapt to the reframed curriculum.

Catanes clarified that CHED’s proposed 18-unit curriculum is not yet final, pending the Commission’s expanded consultation process involving students, faculty, professional organizations, industry partners, and technical panels to further deliberate the most appropriate framework.

Addressing anxieties raised in multiple position papers submitted to the Commission, Fermin assured that CHED regulations serve strictly as minimum standards. The framework does not dictate pedagogy, syllabi, or institutional identity. He said that the technical panel designed the reframing to preserve GE’s value against legislative crosswinds that initially sought to abolish it entirely.

UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco (center) with the attendees of the panel discussion on GE reframing at West Visayas State University, Iloilo City.

Fermin stated that there is no directive to enforce a new curriculum immediately by 2027. Stakeholder consultations will continue until late 2026. He said that a pilot phase may be envisioned for the 2027-2028 academic year, following the insights from the expanded consultation process.

Written by John Peter Himor