16/06/2026
CHED BICOL REMINDS HEIs: STUDENT SAFETY MUST REMAIN PARAMOUNT IN ALL OFF-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
Legazpi City, Albay — The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office V (CHED Bicol) has issued a memorandum reiterating the salient provisions of CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 63, Series of 2017, and directing all public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the region to strictly comply with policies governing local off-campus activities.
The memorandum, signed by Regional Director Dr. Demetrio P. Anduyan, Jr., CESO III, underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring the safety, security, welfare, and well-being of students participating in educational tours, field exposures, immersion activities, community engagements, sports competitions, cultural activities, extension programs, and other off-campus undertakings.
“Experiential learning remains an important component of quality higher education. However, meaningful learning experiences must always be accompanied by appropriate safeguards to protect our students,” Director Anduyan said.
The memorandum reminds HEIs that student safety and welfare must be the primary consideration in the planning, approval, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all off-campus activities. Institutions are likewise directed to conduct comprehensive risk assessments, establish emergency response and contingency measures, ensure adequate supervision, and comply with all applicable safety requirements.
CHED Bicol also emphasized the importance of adopting a culture of risk-based thinking in institutional decision-making.
“Potential hazards and risks must be identified, assessed, and addressed before activities are conducted. Safety should never be treated as an afterthought. It must be integrated into every stage of planning and implementation,” Director Anduyan added.
The issuance comes amid the increasing recognition of the need to strengthen safety protocols and institutional preparedness in educational activities conducted outside school premises. Through the memorandum, CHED Bicol seeks to reinforce accountability among higher education institutions while ensuring that students continue to benefit from experiential learning opportunities in a safe and secure environment.
The Commission emphasized that while educational tours, immersions, fieldwork, outreach activities, and similar programs provide valuable learning experiences, these should never come at the expense of student safety.
“The protection of life, health, security, welfare, and well-being of students shall remain the paramount consideration in every institutional undertaking, and most especially in activities conducted outside the premises of the Higher Education Institution,” the memorandum states.
CHED Bicol calls on all HEI leaders, administrators, faculty members, and student affairs practitioners to strengthen compliance with existing policies and ensure that every student activity is educationally meaningful, properly supervised, and supported by appropriate risk mitigation measures.
As institutions entrusted with developing the nation’s future leaders, HEIs play a critical role in fostering a culture of safety, accountability, preparedness, and responsible decision-making.
Through strict adherence to CMO No. 63, Series of 2017, CHED Bicol aims to promote learning experiences that are not only enriching and transformative but also safe and secure for every learner.
