Morong, Rizal, Philippines — Marinduque State University (MarSU) President Prof. Diosdado P. Zulueta participated in the first day of the 3rd SUCs Executive Forum held at the University of Rizal System (URS). Joining PDPZ were Dr. Maria Morena V. Santos, Board Secretary V; Dr. Alfredo M. Ofrecio III, Chief of Staff; and Ms. Lady M. Logatoc, Board Secretary II.
The forum carried the theme “Building Smart SUCs Through Collaborative Leadership, Digital Innovation, and Institutional Excellence,” bringing together leaders and key officials from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to discuss initiatives and strategies for strengthening higher education institutions.
The opening program featured the welcome message of URS President Dr. Nancy T. Pascual, followed by the opening message of CHED Commissioner Dr. Desiderio R. Apag III. A major highlight of the day was Commissioner Apag’s State of the Commissioner’s Address (SOCA), which emphasized the importance of moving from information to action, with institutional data serving as a basis for continuous improvement. The discussion also considered the environment surrounding students and what SUCs could do to better serve them in alignment with the ACHIEVE Agenda.
Likewise, Commissioner Apag highlighted the growing international presence of Philippine SUCs. During the address, 11 SUCs were included in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, while nine SUCs received recognition in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI). The presentation also highlighted MarSU’s participation in international rankings, with the University placing in the 1,500+ in the THE Impact Rankings in both 2025 and 2026, while achieving Rank 270 in WURI.
The discussions further covered the status of the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) and the development of the Office of Commissioner Desiderio R. Apag (OCDRA) website, emphasizing the continuing digitalization of institutional processes and the transition toward paperless systems. Among the digital initiatives discussed were the E-Travel Authority, communication tracking system, and transaction processing system, as well as the cost analysis and adaptation of digital materials for meetings.
In the afternoon, participants proceeded to discussions on the SMART SUCs 2030 Framework, followed by the SMART SUCs Declaration and Commitment Signing Ceremony and the President’s Roundtable Discussion.
As the 3rd SUCs Executive Forum continues until September 3, PDPZ, together with the MarSU delegation, remains engaged in discussions on collaborative leadership, digital innovation, and institutional excellence.
