Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional office here is making strides to bring college education to remote areas in Samar province by setting up satellite campuses in two island towns.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Samar provincial government announced that officials carried out site visits and technical inspections in the island municipalities of Daram and Zumarraga on July 22. This initiative is part of Project SAMAR (Smart Access and Mobile Academic Resources), designed to expand access to higher education in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas in Samar province.
The inspections were conducted by the CHED regional office's technical team, with participation from Samar provincial board member Bembot Bermejo, representatives from the provincial government of Samar, Samar State University (SSU) officials, local government officials, and other education stakeholders. The team evaluated the proposed sites for SSU extension classes, thoroughly examining facilities, classrooms, learning resources, and institutional support to ensure they meet CHED standards before the program's implementation.
Under Project SAMAR, SSU will start offering extension classes in Daram and Zumarraga beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Initially, the university will provide a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries program, enabling students in the island municipalities to access tertiary education without traveling to SSU's main campus.
The Samar provincial government highlighted that the initiative aims to broaden higher education opportunities for students in geographically isolated communities while supporting the development of Samar's fisheries industry by producing graduates with technical knowledge and practical skills.
Project SAMAR is funded by the provincial government of Samar, led by Governor Sharee Ann Tan, in collaboration with SSU. The program seeks to create a provincial higher education access framework that delivers quality tertiary education to underserved communities across the province.
