The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) received a Plaque of Recognition for emerging as the top-performing school in the 2025 Environmental Planners (EnP) Computer-Based Licensure Examination. The award was conferred by the Professional Regulatory Board of Environmental Planning and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) during the oathtaking ceremony of the new Environmental Planners (EnPs) held on 30 September 2025 at the Brittany Hotel, Bonifacio Global City.
This milestone marks the first time in UPOU’s 30-year history that the University has been recognized as a top-performing school in a PRC-administered licensure examination. The recognition highlights UPOU’s commitment to excellence in open and distance learning and its strong contribution to the advancement of the environmental planning profession.
The award was received by Dean Finaflor Taylan, DLUP Program Chair Remsce Pasahol, and Faculty Secretary Lloyd Lyndel Simporios. Joining the celebration were graduates of the Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) program under the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) who have successfully passed the licensure examination.
Leading the roster of new EnPs nationwide is EnP Irel Fortugaleza Manansala of the DLUP Class of 2024, who secured Top 1 with a rating of 87.80%. She also delivered the response message on behalf of the new EnPs.
Another outstanding achievement came from EnP Maria Elena Jimenez Sumisim, also of the DLUP Class of 2024, who ranked 3rd place with a score of 86.85%. These DLUP graduates both received a medal and a certificate of recognition from the PRC.
With the theme “Kaagapay,” the oathtaking ceremony underscored the vital role of EnPs in ushering the country towards sustainable development. As defined under Republic Act No. 10587 or the Environmental Planning Act of 2013, the discipline is the Philippine counterpart of the multi-disciplinary art and science of urban and regional planning. It focuses on analyzing, specifying, clarifying, harmonizing, managing, and regulating the use and development of land and water resources in relation to their environs, as EnPs aspire to create sustainable communities and ecosystems.
This is the second consecutive year that UPOU has produced topnotchers in the EPLE. In 2024, UPOU produced its first topnotchers: EnP John Andrew Binay Cruz (Top 2), EnP Zeilanni Dale Almadrones Galicia (Top 7), and EnP Mary Ann Mocorro Marcellones (Top 8).
First offered in 2015, DLUP is UPOU’s academic response to the growing demand for competent planners in Local Government Units and other government agencies outside Metro Manila. Since then, the program has attracted students who are now serving in both the public and private sectors.
UPOU also shares this award with other constituent universities of UP, particularly UPLB and UP Diliman, that has been assisting the university since the initial years of DLUP. All UP CUs (OU, Diliman, LB, Visayas, and Mindanao) offering similar planning programs also reported a passing rate of more than 95%. This historic achievement reflects UP’s continuing mission to democratize access to quality higher education while cultivating professionals who can lead the way in urban and regional planning.
Written by aProf. Remsce Pasahol
#UPOpenUniversity
