By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

The Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED‑CAR), through its UniFAST Unit, conducted Project ACCESS at BVS Colleges in La Trinidad, Benguet, on April 7, 2026, providing orientation to learners and school personnel on government financial assistance programs for tertiary education. A total of 63 participants, composed of Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners and first‑year college students, attended the session, which aimed to increase awareness of available higher education support mechanisms.

During the activity, Mr. Lemuel V. Refuerzo, Regional Coordinator of the UniFAST Unit, presented the key programs under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), including Free Higher Education, the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), and the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP). The session aimed to clarify program coverage, eligibility, and benefits for prospective and current college students.

Project ACCESS—or Acquainting In‑Coming College Entrants on Scholarship and Grants‑in‑Aid System—is CHED‑CAR’s flagship information campaign designed to strengthen linkages with partner institutions and increase awareness of available scholarships and grants‑in‑aid. The initiative supports CHED‑CAR’s efforts to improve access to higher education and assist students in making informed academic decisions.