
September 1, 2025 – The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) formally welcomed the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) and members of the Joint Technical Panel for the evaluation of its Graduate School programs in line with the application for a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC).
Arrived in Masbate from CHED Regional Office V were Ms. Ma. Sharie A. Bailon, MBA, CHED Education Supervisor, together with Dr. Jake M. Laguador, RQAT member.
Also joining the process are members of CHED’s Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) Technical Panel, including Dr. Ma. Nympha B. Joaquin and Dr. Derren N. Gaylo, technical evaluators for Secondary Education; Dr. Regidor G. Gaboy and Dr. Allen U. Bautista, technical evaluators for Technical, Vocational, and Alternative Education; and Dr. Ramir S. Austria, technical evaluator for Graduate Teacher Education. The panel is set to conduct the actual evaluation on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, through online teleconferencing.
The graduate programs under review include the Master of Arts in Education with majors in English Language Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Administration and Supervision, as well as the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdDEL).
On Monday afternoon, Ms. Bailon and Dr. Laguador began the preliminary review of documents and requirements to determine whether the programs meet CHED’s minimum standards for compliance.
The presence of the CHED technical panel and RQAT underscores a crucial step in advancing academic excellence and ensuring the continued relevance of graduate education at DEBESMSCAT.
The College expressed optimism that the evaluation will foster constructive dialogue and meaningful feedback, strengthening its commitment to delivering quality education and responsive graduate programs for learners.