The University of the Philippines marked a milestone in its pursuit of academic excellence with the first-ever Systemwide Quality Assurance (QA) Conference, held on June 8–9, 2026 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. With the theme “Quality as Duty, Excellence as Legacy: Forging the Future of UP as the National University,” the conference brought together more than 650 administrators, academic leaders, and QA officers from across the UP System to strengthen and harmonize quality assurance practices.
Among the participants, the College of Home Economics (CHE) at UP Diliman stood out for its strong commitment to ensuring the quality and service delivery of its academic programs. Leading the CHE delegation were Prof. Joanne R. Bantang, Dean of the College, and Asst. Prof. Lester John C. Lim, College Quality Assurance Officer. Their presence underscored the College’s proactive role in embedding QA principles into curriculum design, institutional initiatives, and student-centered service delivery.
The CHE delegation was further strengthened by the participation of departmental QA officers, representing the breadth of the College’s academic programs. From the Department of Food Science and Nutrition (DFSN), Assoc. Prof. Rowena Sanchez, Prof. Maria Leonora Francisco, and Asst. Prof. Maria Carmela Taob joined the discussions. The Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (DHRIM) was represented by Assoc. Prof. Jennifer P. Loverio, Asst. Prof. Rosanne Nicollete M. Eleazar, and Asst. Prof. Raymund Gerard I. Guerrero. Assoc. Prof. Charla Rochella Saamong carried the banner for the Department of Family Life and Child Development (DFLCD), while Assoc. Prof. Aurora S. Llige and Prof. Consuelo T. Chua represented the Department of Home Economics Education (DHEEd). Completing the roster were Asst. Prof. Candy Maristela and Asst. Prof. Johanna Faustino from the Department of Clothing, Textiles, and Interior Design (DCTID).
The active participation of CHE’s faculty in the conference highlighted the College’s collective commitment to harmonized QA practices across its diverse programs. It also reaffirmed CHE’s dedication to service-centered delivery of education, ensuring that its teaching, research, and extension work remain responsive to the needs of students, families, and communities. By engaging in systemwide dialogue, CHE contributes to UP’s collective promise to “do better always,” aligning with the national university’s mission to uphold excellence and relevance in higher education.
As emphasized during the conference, quality assurance is not merely a technical process but an act of care. It is the institution’s way of telling its students, “We take your time seriously, we take your learning seriously, we take your future seriously.” The College of Home Economics embodies this ethos, ensuring that its programs continue to nurture lives, families, and futures through a culture of quality and excellence.
Prepared by: Asst. Prof. Lester John C. Lim
