Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF)—exhibiting its constant drive for academic excellence and lifelong learning—garnered key regional honors during the Scholarships for Staff and Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP) and Delivering Higher Education Institutions (DHEIs) Conference, held on September 29, 2026, at La Piazza Hotel and Convention Center in Legazpi City.
Organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office V, the gathering convened DHEIs and Sending HEIs spanning Academic Years 2021–2022 through 2026–2027, and SIKAP scholar-awardees from across Bicol.
Central to the conference were the SIKAP Recognition Rites, themed “Rooted in Fortitude, Shaped by Resilience: Celebrating the Journey of Advanced Learning,” which formally celebrated the academic milestones of master’s and doctoral graduates while honoring institutional partners that foster faculty advancement.
During the rites, NCF was conferred a Certificate of Commendation by CHED Regional Office V in recognition of its exemplary service as an accredited DHEI during the academic year 2021–2022.
Concurrently, NCF received a Certificate of Appreciation as an active Sending HEI, acknowledging its institutional support for faculty member Ms. Reysalie F. Tunay of the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE), who pursued her Master of Science in Criminal Justice with specialization in Criminology (MSCJ) at NCF.
The conference also honored MSCJ alumni produced under the institution’s graduate program, including Mr. Christian E. Madridano of Bonaventure Colleges of Sorsogon, Inc., and Ms. Rhymelyn D. Sanchez of Sorsogon College of Criminology, Inc.
As defined by CHED, SIKAP is a “flagship initiative by the CHED, providing scholarship opportunities for teaching and non-teaching personnel of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to pursue advanced graduate studies—Master’s or Doctorate—in priority disciplines across the Philippines.”
Representing NCF at the regional conference were Dr. Aida P. Osea, Executive Vice President for External Linkages and Internationalization; Dr. Marilyn F. Balares, Assistant Vice President for Tertiary Education and CCJE Dean; alongside senior CCJE faculty members Dr. Alex A. Lagarde and Dr. Mary Grace L. Villar-Moralde.
Serving as both a provider and beneficiary of high-value graduate education, NCF fortifies its dual role in shaping the regional higher education landscape and elevating faculty qualifications across Bicol.