The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has officially opened its regional office in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental and Talisay City, Negros Occidental, its chairperson Prospero de Vera III said on Saturday.

The establishment of CHEd Regional Office XVIII-NIR in Dumaguete City is a key development under Republic Act 12000, which mandates the creation of the Negros Island Region (NIR).

In 2023, before the passage of the NIR Act, CHEd has established a Sub-Regional Office in Talisay City, now operating as CHEdRO-NIR SRO, to provide students and higher education institutions in Negros Occidental easy access to CHEd services and programs.

De Vera, together with Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, CHEd Commissioners Shirley Agrupis and Ronald Adamat, and CHEdRO-NIR Regional Director Raul Alvarez Jr., on Friday led the inauguration of the new regional office at Negros Oriental State University in Dumaguete City.

“Throughout the years, CHEd has been committed to ensuring that we bring CHEd services closer to the Filipino people. Before the passage of RA 12000, CHEd has already established a satellite office in Negros Island located at Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in Talisay City because we recognize the challenges faced by Negresense, having to travel on the sea, to access our services from our regional office in Iloilo,” De Vera said.