Commission on Higher Education (Philippines)

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED; Komisyon sa Mas Mataas na Edukasyon or Komisyon sa Lalong Mataas na Edukasyon) is a government agency under the Office of the President of the Philippines. It is responsible for regulating and governing all higher education institutions and post-secondary educational programs in the country.

History
The CHED was established on May 18, 1994 through Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994.

Governance
The CHED is headed by a Chairperson and four Commissioners appointed by the President. The current chairperson, Prospero “Popoy” E. de Vera III, was appointed by Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 and re-appointed by Bongbong Marcos in 2022. On January 22, 2024, the Office of the President of the Philippines imposed a 90-day preventive suspension order against a Commissioner Aldrin A. Darilag who was accused of grave misconduct, neglect in the performance of duty and abuse of authority or oppression.

On March 12, 2024, Darilag filed with the Ombudsman of the Philippines against Chairman De Vera III a 5-page complaint for graft and corruption and grave abuse of authority charges, under R.A. 3019, the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act". "Respondent De Vera would like me to support Aspen as a supplier of CHED even though it did not comply with the requirements stipulated in Republic Act 9184, otherwise known as the procurement law. He even asked me to have a meeting with Aspen representatives, which I refused to do," Darilag's sworn affidavit read.

CHED Center of Excellence
The CHED awards Center of Excellence status to departments within higher education institutions that "demonstrate excellent performance in the areas of instruction, research and publication, extension and linkages and institutional qualifications". It also grants Center of Development status to departments that "demonstrate the potential to become a Center of Excellence".