University News

Strong preparation marks PUPCET 2026 third batch

Gicel Roger Salvilla, News, Communication Management Office

Sintang Paaralan successfully administered the third batch of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines College Entrance Test (PUPCET) 2026 on February 22, drawing approximately 21,000 aspiring Iskolar ng Bayan who took a significant step toward accessing quality higher education.

The conduct of the examination was supported by faculty members, administrators, student volunteers, and partner local government support agencies, reflecting the university’s coordinated and community-driven approach to admissions.

Jaime Y. Gonzales, Chief of the Admission and Registration Services Section, reported a high level of institutional readiness. Comparing current preparations, he shared that the planning spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Services (OVPSAS) under Vice President Tomas Testor yielded strong results.

As Gonzales explained, “Kung by percentage natin titignan, ang preparation ay halos 95–97% prepared at ang remaining percent ay ang mga [unexpected] problems na na-encounter [during the day] pero generally maayos at organisado ang pagprepara natin ng PUPCET” (“If we look at it by percentage, the preparation is about 95–97% complete, and the remaining percent refers to the problems encountered on the day of the exam, but generally our preparation for PUPCET was orderly and well-organized”).

Gonzales also commended the active participation and coordination of the PUP community and community agencies, emphasizing that the university continues to refine its processes while sustaining effective practices from previous years. He reassured stakeholders that inclusivity remains a priority, stressing that “No one left behind, pinagbibigyan natin hangga’t maaari lahat ng mga bata from the exam” (“No one left behind; as much as possible, we accommodate all students in the examination”). He likewise expressed gratitude to faculty test administrators and student volunteers who served as proctors for their commitment to ensuring the success of the examination.

Meanwhile, faculty test administrator Federick Baysa of the College of Human Kinetics highlighted the university’s strong preparatory measures, noting that “May mga orientation ang university na naisagawa para ihanda ang mga faculty test administrator para sa darating na PUPCET” (“The university conducted orientations to prepare the faculty test administrators for the upcoming PUPCET”). According to Baysa, these orientations ensured that personnel were fully equipped with the necessary protocols and responsibilities prior to deployment.

In terms of challenges, Baysa shared that the careful handling of testing materials remained a critical task, explaining that “Pag check isa-isa ng mga test booklet bilang tungkulin namin pangalagaan ang mga ito” (“Checking the test booklets one by one is part of our duty to safeguard them”). To further assist examinees, he made it a point to regularly roam around the testing rooms to verify that students were properly guided in accomplishing their answer sheets and that any concerns were immediately addressed.

The successful conduct of the PUPCET 2026 third batch underscores PUP’s continuing commitment to widening access to higher education. The initiative directly advances Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, while the strong collaboration with LGUs and university stakeholders supports SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Moreover, the university’s inclusive admissions approach reflects SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, reinforcing PUP’s mission of opening doors for more Filipino youth to become future Iskolar ng Bayan and nation-builders.