University of Abra Holds First Board of Regents Meeting
QUEZON CITY – A monumental chapter unfolded in the history of higher education in the Cordillera region as the University of Abra successfully convened its very first Board of Regents (BOR) meeting on August 18, 2026, at the Office of Commissioner Myrna Q. Mallari Conference Room in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Central Office. Presided over by BOR Chairperson-Designate, CHED Commissioner Myrna Q. Mallari, DBA, CPA, the meeting served as the foundational assembly charting the institution’s future as a full-fledged state university.
The hybrid meeting brought together key leaders and stakeholders dedicated to guiding the newly transformed university. Physically present for the landmark occasion were Dr. Serafin L. Ngohayon, Vice-Chairperson and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the SUC President; Ms. Christense Denise L. Geonzon, Representative of the House of Representatives Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE) Chair, Hon. Jude A. Acidre; Hon. Artemio C. Donato Jr., Alumni President; Dr. Jude Mark T. Tejero, Faculty Federation President; and Mr. Elizier B. Lazo, Acting Board Secretary. Joining the proceedings virtually were Dir. Apollo Edwin S. Pagano, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)-CAR Regional Director; Dr. Nancy A. Bantog, Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-CAR Regional Director; Hon. Princess Krystal Faye B. Reyes, Student Federation President; and Dr. Noel B. Begnalen, Vice President for Academic Affairs.
A primary highlight of the inaugural meeting was the official oath-taking of Hon. Artemio C. Donato Jr., Mayor of the Municipality of Pidigan, Abra, who formally stepped into his role as the very first Alumni Regent of the University of Abra. His swearing-in symbolizes the enduring connection between the institution’s graduates and its strategic leadership.
Throughout the session, the Board acted upon essential governance and administrative matters critical to transitioning from the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) to the University of Abra. Key discussions centered around the formal launch of the University of Abra, strategic tasking for the Search Committee for President to select the institution’s first university president, and crucial fiscal, infrastructure, and extension program commitments designed to elevate academic and regional development.
This historic assembly marks more than a mere organizational transition; it signifies the dawning of an extraordinary era for the Province of Abra. As the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology officially transcends into the University of Abra, the institution rises to claim its mantle as a beacon of academic excellence, innovation, and community empowerment. Standing firmly on a foundation of visionary leadership, the University of Abra now opens its gates to limitless horizons, ready to inspire generations, transform lives, and forge an unyielding legacy of educational triumph across the region and beyond.
