05 December 2024
For championing accessible and quality higher education that positively impacted the lives of many Filipinos and advanced the Philippine higher education system, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Secretary Popoy De Vera was awarded The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) for 2024.
The prestigious TOFIL award, often referred to as “the Nobel Prize of the Philippines”, is presented by the Junior Chamber International Senate Philippines (JCISP) to deserving Filipino experts and professionals who made significant contributions towards the upliftment of Philippine society in their chosen fields and advocacies.
Today at the House of Representatives, House Speaker Martin Romualdez represented by Mr. Glen Rufino, JCISP National Chairman Rodolfo Saavedra, and Deputy Majority Leader Bong Teves Jr. represented by JCI Senator Norman Macapagal, conferred the Laureate for Government and Public Service to De Vera for his valuable service to the advancement of Philippine higher education.
“I thank JCI Philippines for this recognition. I understand that the honor I was given comes with a great responsibility and that the shoes being used by those men and women who came before me are extremely hard to fill,” De Vera said.
“This Award is not just for me. It is also for my daughter, my granddaughters, my colleagues in CHED, and most of all to the students whom I have met as I Padyak around the country. I received The Outstanding Filipino award on behalf of the Filipino students whose dreams and aspirations turned into reality because of free higher education,” De Vera added.
“The Outstanding Filipino Awards reminds us that in every corner of this nation, there are individuals who live with unwavering dedication transcending personal interest to uplift communities and inspire others. This award is not only a recognition of personal achievement but a reflection of what it means to embody excellence, service, and selflessness,” House Speaker Romualdez said.
With this laureate, Secretary De Vera joins the pool of notable TOFIL-awardees including Former Senator Lorenzo Tanada in 1988, Rosa Rosal in 1989, Former President Diosdado Macapagal in 1990, National Scientist Dioscoro Umali in 1991, National Artist Jose Joya in 1992, Former Senate President Jovito Salonga in 1993, Dr. Fe del Mundo in 1997, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal in 1998, National Scientist Emil Javier in 2002, Francis Kong in 2014, Ramon Ang in 2019, Bobby Castro in 2021, Feliciano Belmonte, and Hans Sy in 2022, among others.
CHED Secretary De Vera’s nomination and eventual conferment of the TOFIL award was attributed to his relentless efforts and service to ensure Filipino people’s access to free and quality tertiary education.
De Vera played a pivotal role in the passage of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931 in 2017.
Today, through the UAQTE, more than 2 million students no longer pay tuition and miscellaneous fees, and more than 700,000 financially challenged students receive financial aid through TES and TDP.
Secretary De Vera also ensured the continuity of higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased the visibility and international recognition of Philippine HEIs which was lauded and recognized by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation address.
In addition, De Vera’s accountable and decisive leadership has made CHED a consistent, most trusted, and top-performing agency in the national government.
(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Chairman
Commission on Higher Education