THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) recently sent a message of gratitude to J. Prospero "Popoy" De Vera III for his leadership during his tenure as Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairperson from 2018-2025.
In a statement, SEARCA said: "De Vera's commitment to advancing Philippine higher education has inspired internationalization, innovation, resilience and global competitiveness."
De Vera's support for SEARCA's project, Leveling-Up Philippine Higher Education Institutions in Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Resources (LevelUPHEI AFAR), empowered 612 faculty members across 60 state universities through training programs, mobility exchanges, and international collaborations.
"We are especially grateful for his support for SEARCA's LevelUPHEI AFAR project, an initiative implemented in collaboration with the State Universities and Colleges–Association of Colleges of Agriculture in the Philippines, Inc. (SUC-Acap), which reflects our shared goal of nurturing excellence and relevance in agricultural and rural development education," SEARCA said.
SEARCA director Mercedita Sombilla thanked De Vera for his unwavering dedication, which has enriched academic programs and fostered valuable partnerships. "His legacy will continue to inspire the future of higher education in the Philippines."
Meanwhile, SEARCA welcomed newly appointed CHEd Chairperson Shirley Agrupis.
"The Center looks forward to continuing its strong collaboration with CHEd to enhance the quality of higher education in the Philippines under her leadership," SEARCA said.
Agrupis is a distinguished academic and researcher who has received numerous honors, including the CHEd Internationalization Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability (ICONS) Internationalization (IZN) Leadership Award and the Gawad Pilipino Awards Outstanding Public Official.
She previously served as CHEd Commissioner and president of Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte.