CHED ramps up SUC crisis preparedness in MMSU training
By Stephanie Camille Ilar
To prevent security threats and enhance readiness across state universities and colleges (SUCs), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in collaboration with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), initiated the Crisis and Incident Management Training Program at the Center for Flexible Learning on December 6–8.
Together with the Department of National Defense–Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), CHED launched the program with a focus on bomb threat response and management to establish standardized response protocols, improve emergency handling, minimize disruptions, and strengthen the overall resiliency of SUCs.
MMSU Security Monitoring Services Director Jan Francis Javier said that although threats such as bomb scares often turn out to be false, they still cause major operational disruptions. With MMSU having received the most such threats, he noted that “these incidents showed that state universities need to improve their ability to respond quickly and safely whenever similar situations happen.”
Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office Director PCOL Joemar Labiano reinforced this point, highlighting the importance of developing “automatic” and well-coordinated responses during emergencies. He emphasized that equipping university personnel with the right skills, confidence, and discipline is essential for effective crisis management.
CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis expressed the commission’s genuine concern for the safety of higher education institutions nationwide. She added that the initiative encourages CHED to pursue new learning pathways focused on securing campus communities and strengthening civil society.
As part of the program, CHED and MMSU formalized their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Chairperson Agrupis and MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. The MOA outlines a collaborative framework for implementing the Crisis and Incident Management Training Program, as well as a K9 Training Program for SUCs at MMSU.
CHED Commissioner Ricmar Aquino, who served as oversight commissioner for the event, emphasized CHED’s strong support for SUCs. He noted that the program will run in four cohorts until 2026 to ensure that as many institutions as possible are equipped to prevent and address future threats.
President Manzano acknowledged the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by SUCs and underscored the need to strengthen institutional readiness. He expressed confidence that the training will help participating universities build more robust security systems and respond more effectively to potential threats.
The three-day training was attended by the first cohort of participants, composed of delegates from Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Isabela State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University–Sta. Cruz, Bicol University, and the University of Antique. They were joined by representatives from the MMSU Security Monitoring Services, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Office.
The event was also attended by PLCOL Jerome Wangkey, officer-in-charge of the City of Batac Police Station; Vice President for Administration and Finance Fides Bernardo Bitanga; Vice President for Academic Affairs Aris Reynold Cajigal; and other MMSU administrators.
Dec, 09, 2025 07:48:pm
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STRATCOM
