CHED VIII Gawad Parangal 2026 highlights SLSU topnotchers, academic excellence

Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) received recognition during the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office VIII Gawad Parangal 2026, held at Leyte Normal University (LNU) on June 3, 2026, for its outstanding performance in professional licensure examinations.

Among those recognized are SLSU alumni who secured top rankings in the April 2025 Registered Master Electricians Licensure Examination, the September 2025 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), the September 2025 Social Worker Licensure Examination (SWLE), and the November 2025 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination. The university likewise produced topnotchers in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers.

In addition, SLSU earned prestigious distinctions as one of the Top Performing Schools in the Criminologists Licensure Examination, placing Rank 7 in February 2025 and improving to Rank 4 in February 2026.

The university’s award-winning streak gained early momentum in the April 2025 Registered Master Electricians Licensure Examination, where Gilbert P. Guhil of the SLSU Sogod Campus secured an impressive Top 3 finish, setting the tone for a series of outstanding accomplishments throughout the year.

The momentum continued into the September 2025 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), where graduates from three different campuses secured spots in the coveted national top ten. At the Elementary Level, the Sogod Main Campus took center stage as Julienne Enoc claimed the Top 6 spot with an outstanding score of 93.00%, closely followed by Novi Mae Barola, who secured the Top 7 position with a rating of 92.80%.

The university’s external campuses mirrored this success at the Secondary Level, as Riza Sibunga of the SLSU San Juan Campus powered her way to the Top 7 spot with a remarkable 93.60%, while Joshua Orais of the Tomas Oppus Campus earned the Top 10 spot with a score of 93.00%.

Capitalizing on the momentum of the teacher boards, SLSU’s social work department delivered an equally historic performance in the September 2025 Social Worker Licensure Examination (SWLE).

Four SLSU graduates successfully penetrated the national top ten, showcasing the high caliber of the university's human services program. Mae Ann B. Olita led at Top 7 with a score of 89.60%, followed closely by Lesly T. Batestil at Top 9 with 89.20%. Rounding out the spectacular performance were Angela Aberlos and Marjorie G. Refuerzo, who both tied for the Top 10 spot after scoring 89.00%.

The university further strengthened its record of excellence in the November 2025 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination, where Renzo Abogado Gantala of the SLSU Sogod Campus clinched the Top 7 position with an impressive 90.20% rating, highlighting SLSU’s strength in engineering education.

The academic triumph extended into the following year, with the March 2026 LEPT cementing the SLSU Tomas Oppus Campus as a premier hub for teacher education. Graduates from the campus swept three high-ranking positions across both testing levels. In the Elementary Level, Daisy Mae M. Tubia achieved a stellar Top 5 finish, scoring 93.80%. The campus duplicated this high ranking in the Secondary Level, where Kim A. Gorduiz also captured a Top 5 spot with an exceptional score of 94.20%—the highest individual percentage among the university's education top-notchers across both cycles. John Lloyd C. Tibon further elevated the campus's standing by securing the Top 7 spot with a score of 93.80%.

In addition to its licensure examination achievements, SLSU received commendations for attaining 100% Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) across all academic programs and for ranking 53rd globally in the WURI 2026 Global Top 500 Innovative Universities. The University was also recognized in 24 categories and earned distinctions in 18 categories, reflecting its commitment to quality, innovation, and global impact.

Representing the University during the recognition program are Dr. Jude A. Duarte, University President; Dr. James Brian Flores, Director for Quality Assurance; Dr. Mark Donald Oja, Director for Curriculum Innovation, Credentialing, and Lifelong Learning; Dr. Clemente H. Cobilla, SLSU–Tomas Oppus Campus Director; Dr. Norlyn Borong, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Education; Dr. Dana Lim, Head of the Science Education Program; Ms. Karina Gutierrez, Dean of the Faculty of Good Governance and Developmental Studies; Ms. Elmee Joy Oraiz, Social Work Program Chair; and Dr. Elysha Alvarado, Head of Student Auxiliary Services.

The entire SLSU community likewise expresses its appreciation to the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VIII, led by Regional Director Maximo C. Aljibe, PhD, DPM, CESO III, for its steadfast support in advancing quality higher education and recognizing the achievements of higher education institutions across Eastern Visayas.

More than an accolade, this recognition is a testament to the dedication, perseverance, and excellence embodied by the SLSU community. It reinforces the University's commitment to its tagline, "Soaring Beyond Limits," by cultivating graduates who not only achieve academic success but also become compassionate leaders, changemakers, and nation-builders committed to serving others and transforming lives.