In a proactive move toward institutional quality assurance and student welfare, the Student Affairs and Services (SAS) providers of Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) convened at Casa Lourdes on September 4, 2026, for a General Orientation on the newly issued Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 18, series of 2026, titled ‘Inclusive and Comprehensive Guidelines on Student Affairs and Services.’
The local orientation aimed to familiarize the SAS providers with the updated national standards for student support, holistic well-being, and institutional governance, following the Zonal Public Orientation conducted by the CHED Central Office on August 20, 2026.
The comprehensive briefing was facilitated by Ms. Marivic Vargas-Balance, Director for Student Affairs and Services, with strategic guidance and technical insights provided by Ms. Teenarose O. Castroverde, Vice President for Institutional Affairs, and Ms. Ma. Humildad F. Claro, Quality Assurance Director.
Central to the assembly’s agenda were the review, consolidation, and updating of the institution’s SAS Manual and the formal constitution of its Manual Committee pursuant to the new directive.
To ensure full compliance, internal monitoring, and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) toward achieving official SAS Compliance Certification, NCF formed a dedicated Core Committee tasked with managing manual revisions and consolidating progress reports for SAS Monitoring and Evaluation.
The newly designated Core Committee includes ex-officio members Vice President Castroverde, Director Vargas-Balance, Director Claro, and Mr. Son B. Reburiano, Head of Student Affairs and Services Office.
Joining them as designated pillar representatives are Ms. Rea Villanueva-Agregado, School Registrar, for Foundational Services; Ms. Katrine Erika S. Castillo-Durante, Head of the Guidance and Testing Center, for Well-Being and Safety; Mr. Brenn Yulo M. Bacus, Training and Communications Manager and The Naga Collegian Adviser, for Development and Engagement, and Mr. Nikko N. Ricafrente, Community Extension Services Coordinator, for Inclusive Support.
During the conference, leadership emphasized that while CMO No. 18, series of 2026 grants a three-year period for complete institutional compliance across all service areas, immediate compliance is mandatory for critical domains, namely, food safety, campus sanitation, and health services.
Through these timely alignment measures, NCF reinforces its steadfast dedication to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and learner-centered environment for every NCean.