THE COMMISSION on Higher Education has granted exemptions to the University of the Philippines Manila and the University of the Philippines Los Baños from the Certificate of Program Compliance requirement, recognizing their outstanding quality assurance systems.

The COPC ensures that higher education institutions meet standards in faculty qualifications, laboratory facilities, curriculum development, and licensure exam preparation. CHED’s decision follows the agency’s strengthened enforcement of quality assurance mechanisms in partnership with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III praised UP Manila and UPLB for leading by example in adhering to national and international academic standards.

> “UP Manila and UPLB have demonstrated exemplary leadership by ensuring their programs undergo rigorous quality assurance processes. They now set the benchmark for other state universities and colleges,” De Vera said.

Programs Covered Under the Exemption

In UP Manila, the exemption covers programs such as Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, and bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Public Health, Speech Pathology, and Diploma in Midwifery.

At UPLB, exempted programs include degrees in Agriculture, Food Science and Technology, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Nutrition, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, and Mathematics and Science Teaching, as well as the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program.

Both universities have secured alternative national, regional, and international certifications, ensuring world-class academic quality.

UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee emphasized the importance of these accreditations in maintaining global standards.

> “We pursue quality assurance from local and international accrediting bodies to ensure that UP Manila, as the national health sciences center, continues to serve Filipinos through our world-class programs and alumni,” Tee stated.

CHED’s Push for Higher Standards

CHED has reiterated that obtaining COPC is a minimum requirement, urging state universities and colleges to pursue international accreditation. Other HEIs have until September 2025 to secure compliance, or their programs risk being deemed non-existent by the PRC.

De Vera also highlighted the administration’s commitment to elevating Philippine higher education as a legacy initiative under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

> “By 2028, higher education in the Philippines will be vastly improved from where it was in 2022. These milestones will be backed by data on teaching quality, faculty credentials, research output, extension programs, and internationalization,” he said.

CHED also aims to upskill and reskill 2,000 HEI leaders and faculty members in 2025, surpassing last year’s 1,000 international scholarship recipients. New training opportunities may include food technology collaborations with Thailand, China, and Japan, and animation courses with New Zealand.

The commission targets increasing globally ranked Philippine HEIs to 110 by 2025, 156 by 2026, 202 by 2027, and 220 by the end of Marcos’ term in 2028. As of June 2024, 87 Philippine HEIs have secured spots in global rankings, a significant jump from 52 in 2023 and 22 in 2022.