30/07/2026
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with the Unilab Foundation, conducted a PeerKada Vibe: Building Healthy Connections, Nurturing Inclusive, and Supportive Spaces (Visayas Cluster) on July 21-24, 2026, at Sotogrande Hotel Iloilo, Iloilo City. The training was spearheaded by the Commission’s Office of the Student Development and Services, led by Ms. Rita P. Sescar, Chief Education Program Specialist; CHED Regional Office VI, headed by Raul F. Muyong, EdD, Director IV; and Unilab Foundation, assisted by Mr. Jann Romeo S. Nacar.
The activity was facilitated by Shiela Marie G. Hocson, PhD, RGC, RPsy, RPm, LPT; Danilo B. Talusan, RGC, RPm; Dulce Q. Esguerra, RGC, LPT; and John Mark S. Distor, PhD Psy, DBA, RPm, CHRP. They featured interactive workshops and role-playing exercises, expert-led discussions on student well-being and peer facilitation, case study analysis and problem-solving activities, and development of peer support action plans and advocacies for implementation in participating HEIs.
The training aims to expand coverage to further strengthen peer support systems through equipping participants with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values regarding basic facilitation such as active listening, healthy communications, and crisis response; enhancing awareness on mental health and well-being enabling participants to guide and refer fellow students in need of support; fostering a network of trained peer facilitators across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who can serve as support to their campus communities and promote wellbeing advocacies; and promoting a culture of care, inclusivity, and student engagement in addressing health and psychosocial concerns.
