The Development Council of State Universities and Colleges Region III / Center for Interinstitutional Research and Policy Studies (DC-SUC III/CIRPS) held its Leadership Transition Ceremony and Joint Executive Council and Technical Staff Meeting on June 29, 2026, at the Quest Plus Conference Center in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.
The event formally marked the transition of leadership within the organization and gathered the heads of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Central Luzon and the CIRPS technical staff to discuss key priorities for higher education in the region.
During the ceremony, Interim Chairperson Commodore Joel Y. Abutal thanked outgoing Executive Director Dr. Brendalyn A. Manzano for her leadership and contributions to the Center. He also welcomed Dr. Jasper Jay N. Mendoza as the new Chairperson of the DC-SUC III/CIRPS Executive Council, expressing confidence in his leadership and commitment to strengthening collaboration among the Region III SUCs.
In his acceptance message, Dr. Mendoza thanked the Executive Council for its trust and acknowledged the contributions of Commodore Abutal and Dr. Manzano. He emphasized his commitment to working closely with the Executive Council, CIRPS management, and technical staff to advance research, policy development, and collaborative initiatives that will benefit member institutions.
The ceremony also introduced Dr. Laarni T. Capinding as the new Executive Director of CIRPS, succeeding Dr. Manzano. The Executive Council likewise recognized incumbent and former council members and technical staff for their valuable service and contributions to the Center.
In the afternoon, the Executive Council and Technical Staff held their regular joint meeting, where they discussed two policy briefs on equitable student support and faculty loading policies across Region III SUCs.
The Council also approved several resolutions, including the amended Constitution, By-Laws, and Operations Manual of DC-SUC III/CIRPS and the transfer of fund withdrawal authority from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) to Tarlac State University (TSU), along with other measures to strengthen the Center's governance and operations.
The activity reaffirmed the Council's commitment to leadership continuity, institutional collaboration, and the continued development of research and policies that support quality higher education in Central Luzon.
