Marikina Polytechnic College’s designated officials attended the National Capital Region International Relations Officers General Assembly and Internationalization Conference on Sustainable Development Goals on June 26, 2026, at the Justo Albert Auditorium at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, to strengthen its international footprint and research collaborations. This strategic engagement follows the college’s first-ever inclusion in the recently concluded Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Dr. Menere R. Nasiad (Director for Records and Information Center), Ms. Ria A. Villareña (Director of the Office of Student Affairs), and Ms. Cecile I. Vizcaya  (Deputy Director for Extension Services) participated in the event titled “Likas-Kayang Bukas: The NCR IROs General Assembly and internationalization Conference on Sustainable Development Goals.” The summit was organized by the NCR Engagement for Regional and International Partnership and Tles (eNCRipt), in partnership with Commission on Higher Education-NCR, and the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP).

CHED NCR Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Director IV Atty. Marco Cicero F. Domingo stressed that the region needs to set the standard for the rest of the country.  “I’ve been very adamant from the very beginning that, as the so-called prime leader among all the regions, NCR should be the lead, especially in internationalization. I hope, like our title, Likas-Kayang Bukas, that this will be a sustainable program or project for CHED-NCR,” Director Domingo shared with the participants. He pointed out that NCR is currently the only region maintaining a unified General Assembly of this kind, urging colleges and universities to work together rather than in isolation.

A major highlight of the gathering was a candid address by CHED Director-in-Charge, International Affairs Services, Dr. Christine Nabor-Ferrer, who celebrated the fact that the number of Philippine universities entering global rankings has soared by 50%, jumping from 117 to 160 active institutions.

“The Philippines was awarded with the most number of higher education institutions in the world. Congratulations sa lahat! This is something that we are really happy to sustain. But always remember that participation in rankings is not about a matter of prestige. Kayo mismo ang makakasagot kung ano ang benefit ng ranking na magagawa sa inyong campuses. The reason why we are doing partnership activities is that we want to improve our policies and the delivery of instruction,” Director Nabor-Ferrer shared, acknowledging the hard work of all SUCs. She challenged universities to use these global benchmarks to get more creative with their academic programs, tighten up internal policies, and build support structures that genuinely help students, especially first-generation college graduates.

Aligning with CHED’s official strategies, the sessions mapped out regional efforts to build a highly responsive internationalization ecosystem. The delegates studied CHED’s seven-point “A.C.H.I.E.V.E.” roadmap, which targets synchronized, SDG-focused research and inclusive educational standards.

The Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management (OPRKM) OIC-Chief Education Program Specialist, Ms. Mayumi Belandres, explained how institutions can turn green initiatives into living laboratories for student learning and community action. She talked about key funding platforms  available to all colleges and universities, including the Sustainable Development Goals-Research and Development Investment Grant (SDG-RDIG) system and a comprehensive breakdown of CHED’s research funding allocation.

When asked about internationalization efforts of MPC, President Rene M. Colocar said, “By taking the momentum from its recent global rankings success in Indonesia and channeling it directly into regional initiatives like the Likas-Kayang Bukas summit, MPC is ensuring that its institutional modernization, digital infrastructure, and research projects deliver meaningful, value-driven results for both its students and the broader community.”#