In support of the government’s “ease of doing business” initiative and to strengthen the implementation of its student internship programs, Biliran Province State University convened university officials on June 10 at the University HAVC to discuss strategies in aligning current practices with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) directives.

Presided over by University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr., the meeting was attended by officials and representatives from academic and administrative units, including vice presidents, deans, legal counsel, and internship coordinators. 

The agenda focused on aligning BiPSU’s internship practices with CHED Memorandum Orders No. 23, s. 2009, No. 104, s. 2017 (SIPP), and No. 10, s. 2023 (SIAP), while also reviewing institutional responsibilities and enhancing monitoring and documentation protocols.

Dr. Cañezo reiterated the university’s strong commitment to full compliance with CHED policies and to eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that often delay internship processing. “Let’s stick with the CMO so that we will not be questioned later on about the delay in OJT processing,” he said. “We need to streamline documentation and implementation flows.”

University Legal Officer Atty. Dick Guiller Delfin presented the updated process flow for internship deployment and reiterated the importance of maintaining a single Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) per Host Training Establishment (HTE), as mandated by CHED. He also emphasized the role of Program OJT Coordinators in ensuring compliance at the student level through the execution of Student Internship Training Agreements.

Addressing concerns raised by deans and coordinators, the university president clarified that the Office of External Affairs will no longer be the main clearinghouse for internship-related documentation.

“The respective colleges or schools, under the supervision of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Vice President for Student and External Affairs, will take direct responsibility for organizing Pre-Deployment Orientation Seminars (PDOS), preparing endorsement letters, and verifying student compliance,” Dr. Cañezo added.

Internship preparation timelines were also streamlined. Required documents for second-semester interns are now expected to be completed during the first semester, and vice versa—allowing for smoother transitions and minimizing delays. 

Dr. Canezo also committed to personally attending PDOS sessions and signing necessary documents on-site to avoid bottlenecks. “Para dili na sila magpila sa President’s Office,” he said.

Meanwhile, in line with BiPSU’s move toward a leaner and more student-centered system, Dr. Canezo discouraged the imposition of unnecessary requirements not stipulated by CHED or institutional policy. 

He particularly emphasized that while student-made OJT journals remain required, the use of pre-printed OJT manuals should not be mandatory, promoting instead reflective and flexible formats for student documentation.

To reinforce supervision, it was also confirmed that each student section undergoing internship must have a designated faculty member with appropriate teaching load credit. “In this way, we can ensure direct monitoring and mentorship,” the university president said.

[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.]