CHED Spearheads Key Initiatives at Trifocal Education Launch

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will play a central role in the 2nd Joint Trifocal Education Management Committee Meeting and the Trifocal Education Launch Program, set to take place next week in Ilocos Norte. In a media advisory issued Monday, January 19, CHED announced its participation in the ManCom meeting and launch program, scheduled for January 22–23 at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City. CHED will spearhead several flagship initiatives aimed at improving access to higher education and supporting students and teachers nationwide. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to attend and oversee the launch, underscoring the administration’s commitment to educational excellence. Joining the President are the heads of key education agencies, including CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Kiko Benitez, and EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. CHED’s major initiatives at the event include the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program (BPMSP), which offers merit-based scholarships in partnership with DepEd and TESDA to top-performing students from families who may not qualify for existing scholarship programs. The agency will also formalize a partnership with the Pag-IBIG Fund through Project BALAY, providing affordable university housing and improving student and staff welfare. Additionally, CHED will launch the TANAW portal, a tool that helps Senior High School students explore recognized colleges and universities across the Philippines using interactive maps and official data, ensuring more informed higher education choices. The event will also feature the oath-taking of newly promoted teachers under the Expanded Career Progression system, institutionalizing merit- and competency-based career pathways for educators. Through these initiatives, CHED reinforces its mission to expand access, strengthen student support, and empower educators, aligning with the Marcos administration’s goal of building a more inclusive and high-quality education system in the Philippines.