QUEZON CITY -- The Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Governing Board welcomes its newest board member, Dr. Anthony Jose Tamayo of the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (PACU), as he received the chairmanship of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA) in a turnover ceremony during the 8th COCOPEA National Congress on June 15, 2021.

Dr. Tamayo, who is also concurrent president of the University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA succeeded Dr. Lourdes Almeda-Sese of the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAPSCU).

The chairmanship of COCOPEA rotates among its five-member associations every two years and the chairman serves as one of the voting members in the 12-member UniFAST Governing Board.

“We want to thank Dr. Sese for the two years of diligent and active service she rendered to the UniFAST Governing Board. We are grateful for the cooperation that Dr. Sese has extended to the Board and even for the most difficult times when we have to make crucial decisions together,” said CHED and UniFAST Governing Board Chairman Popoy De Vera.

“Congratulations to Dr. Tamayo on this chairmanship. The UniFAST Board is excited to work with you and we hope to continue the same strong cooperation towards providing our Filipino students universal access to quality tertiary education at all levels,” added De Vera.

Founded in 1961, the COCOPEA is the lead in public policy development on behalf of the five educational associations, namely PAPSCU, PACU, Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU) and the Tech-Voc Schools Association of the Philippines (TVSA). Together with its more than 2,000 members, it is the biggest organization in the country that promotes and safeguards the interest of the private education sector. (CHED)