In a significant step toward sustaining excellence in nursing education, the University of Northern Philippines College of Nursing welcomed a joint CHED-PRBON monitoring and evaluation team on June 30, 2026, to assess the quality, compliance, and overall implementation of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
The comprehensive audit brought together an elite panel of academic regulators and healthcare leaders dedicated to vetting the program’s alignment with stringent national standards.
The comprehensive evaluation was spearheaded by an esteemed joint delegation from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing, emphasizing the significance of the undertaking. Heading the team was Dr. Zenaida Gagno, distinguished member of the PRBON, together with Dr. Mary Grace Lacanaria of the PRBON Technical Panel and Dr. Carmelita Divinagracia, PRBON Technical Expert for Nursing. Also participating in the assessment were Dr. Melquiades Ancheta, Chief of the Nonconventional Higher Education Division under the CHED Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD), and Ms. Nina Palaganas of the CHED-OPSD Central Office, whose presence reinforced the collaborative commitment to ensure excellence and regulatory compliance in nursing education.
Rounding out the formidable regional and regulatory oversight team were Dr. Joel Estacio, member of the CHED Regional Office 1 Regional Quality Assurance Team for the BSN program, Mr. Albert Subang of the CHED Regional Office 1, and Ms. Richelle Salviejo, representing the Professional Regulation Commission.
On the frontlines of the evaluation was Dr. Francis Don Nero, Dean of the College of Nursing, flanked by the institution’s entire faculty and staff body. Also present during the event were Dr. Luzviminda Relon, Director for Instruction, and Dr. Eva Marie Avila, Director for Quality Assurance. Together, the UNP team presented a meticulous showcase of the college’s instructional paradigms, faculty credentials, and student support mechanisms.
As a core component of the evaluation, the delegation conducted a physical tour of the campus facilities to inspect the actual learning environment. The panel meticulously scrutinized the University Clinic, the comprehensive library collections, and the specialized nursing laboratory rooms to ensure they met the strict modern standards required for clinical and academic training.
The university administration further solidified its absolute support for the quality assurance initiative later in the day, with University President Dr. Erwin Cadorna arriving to personally interface with the panel during the latter part of the proceedings.
This vital monitoring visit emphasizes the University of Northern Philippines’ unwavering commitment to academic excellence, ensuring that its nursing curriculum remains robust, competitive, and fully capable of producing the next generation of world-class, compassionate healthcare professionals.
Article and photo by Rizza Abinsay
