Gov. Garcia vows to help CTU secure COPC

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia vowed to assist engineering graduates from Cebu Technological University (CTU) in securing the needed requirements to obtain Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC).

The COPC is a recognition that a specified degree program being offered by state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) is fully compliant with the policies, standards, and guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and aligned with the current educational reforms, such as K to 12 basic education curriculum, new general education curriculum, etc.

The assistance from the Capitol came after the CTU officials from different campuses sought the governor’s help in acquiring additional laboratory equipment needed to obtain the certification from CHED.

The absence of a COPC has prevented hundreds of graduates from qualifying for their respective licensure exams.

In a published article of the Freeman on Jan. 16, 2025, it was reported that some mechanical engineering graduates who will be taking their board exams this month may not be able to do so, after knowing that the university they graduated from has not complied with the COPC.

Garcia, who shared their meeting on her speech in R’Cebu 2025 4th District Event yesterday, expressed her opposition to CHED’s requirement, questioning the sudden enforcement of the COPC.

“Mikalit og insister nga gikinahanglan ang usa ka COPC ang matag eskwelahan kung diin nang gradwar kining mga engineering students. Unya pagkahuman ug gradwar di diay maka board exam? Unsay mahitabo? Foreman moapply?” she said.

She emphasized the impact on poor but deserving students who have struggled to finish their education.

She further challenged CHED’s regional director’s stance, asserting that an “authority to operate” and a “Certificate of Program Compliance” are two different things.

In its CHED regional office VII memorandum released last December 2024, it reiterated the importance of securing the COPC most especially to the board programs.

“PRC will no longer admit applications for the licensure examinations from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) without COPCs,” reads a portion in the memo.

The governor further challenged CHED’s regional director, Dr. Maura Consolacion Cristobal’s stance, asserting that an “authority to operate” and a “Certificate of Program Compliance” are two different things.

To address the issue, the Cebu provincial government has committed to acquiring laboratory equipment through emergency procurement.

The equipment will be provided to CTU campuses to facilitate COPC approval.

The Provincial Government’s intervention aims to help over 600 engineering graduates qualify for the board exams this year.

Garcia stressed the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that students should be able to take the exam while their knowledge is still fresh.

“Mao man gani nga state university intawn ang gi enrollan kay they are scholars…Poor but deserving students nga anaa kanila ang paglaum sa ginikanang nga pila ka tuig lang gani gasuwa og asin kay aron lang jud mahuman ang ilang anak,” she underscored.

Meanwhile, CTU president Dr. Joseph Pepito has been instructed to submit a list of required laboratory equipment, including the Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and other essential tools.

The COPC requirement was introduced in 2010, but its enforcement has been delayed several times.

State universities should meet standards in every program including: curriculum; faculty qualifications (master’s degrees in aligned disciplines); facilities (laboratories and libraries); quality assurance; and student services.