UPOU Chancellor Joane Serrano (right) shaking hands with Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap (left) with other principal signatories (L-R): Tarlac Governor Christian Yap, UPOU FEd Dean Charisse Reyes, and UPOU FMDS Dean Finaflor Taylan.
Building on an exploratory meeting held on 20 May 2026, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the City Government of Tarlac City, and the Provincial Government of Tarlac formally sealed a partnership on 3 June 2026 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at establishing a learning hub and expanding access to UP-based educational and training opportunities in the province.
The agreement marks a significant step forward from initial discussions into an operational collaboration focused on strengthening human capacity development and widening access to higher education for communities in Tarlac.
The ceremony featured the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs): one between UPOU and the City Government of Tarlac City and another between UPOU and the Provincial Government of Tarlac. Chancellor Joane Serrano signed both agreements on behalf of UPOU, while Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap and Tarlac Governor Christian Yap signed on behalf of their respective local government units. UPOU Faculty of Education Dean Charisse Reyes served as witness to both MOUs.
Principal Signatories of the MOA signing from UPOU, City Government of Tarlac, and Provincial Government of Tarlac.
The parties traced the origins of the initiative, noting that the idea of bringing expanded UP education services to Tarlac had been under discussion for some time. The exploratory meeting held in May centered on addressing the increasing demand for tertiary education access in the province. These discussions highlighted the need for a dedicated space where learners could access academic support, training programs, and other educational services without having to leave their communities.
The concept gained traction through engagements with key stakeholders, including UP President Angelo A. Jimenez, as part of broader efforts to expand UP’s reach through partnerships and learning hubs across the country. The envisioned Tarlac Learning Hub is expected to function not only as an academic support center but also as a venue for community training and skills development.
Governor Christian Yap expressed appreciation for UPOU’s openness to the collaboration. He underscored the importance of strengthening educational capacity across different sectors and emphasized that the partnership would help create more opportunities for upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning in the province.
In her message, UPOU Chancellor Joane V. Serrano conveyed gratitude for the successful formalization of the partnership, recalling the momentum generated following Mayor Susan Yap’s visit to UPOU shortly after the exploratory meeting. She emphasized that the initiative reflects strong alignment between UPOU’s mandate of democratizing access to quality education and the local government’s commitment to educational development. Chancellor Serrano noted that while UPOU has engaged in various partnerships with local government units, the Tarlac collaboration stands out as a concrete realization of earlier exploratory discussions.
Mayor Susan Yap described the occasion as a historic milestone for both the city and the province, emphasizing the urgency of expanding access to education as a driver of local development. She highlighted human capacity development as a central strategy for progress and reiterated the local government’s commitment to ensuring that more residents have access to quality education and skills training opportunities.
Mayor Yap also expressed gratitude to all participating teams for their coordination and efforts in advancing the initiative from exploratory discussions to a formal agreement. As part of the city’s support, she announced the allocation of 40 desktop computers to equip the Tarlac Learning Hub and enhance digital learning access.
Principal Signatories of the MOA signing from UPOU, City Government of Tarlac, and Provincial Government of Tarlac.
The MOA signing concluded the event, formally solidifying the partnerships between UPOU and the City Government of Tarlac, and between UPOU and the Provincial Government of Tarlac. Tokens of appreciation were also exchanged in recognition of the collaboration.
Chancellor Serrano also engaged in a short interview among media practitioners in the region to explain in detail about the newly signed agreement and the benefits of the Tarlac Learning Hub among Tarlaqueños and other residents of nearby provinces.
Along with Chancellor Serrano and Dean Reyes, were other UPOU officials. These include Assoc. Prof. Finaflor Taylan, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies; Asst. Prof. Blancaflor P. Arada, University Registrar; Asst. Prof. Juvy Lizette Gervacio, Director, Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL); Assoc. Prof. Reinald Adrian Pugoy, Director, Information and Communication Technology Development Office; Asst. Prof. Remsce Pasahol, Program Development Associate for Linkages; Ms. Yasele Yambao, Executive Assistant, and Ms. Anna Cañas-Llamas, Assistant to the Director, Office of Public Affairs.
With the agreement now in place, the partners move forward from exploratory dialogue to implementation, signaling a shared commitment to building an accessible and sustainable learning hub for the people of Tarlac.
Written by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Anna Cañas-Llamas | Photos by Dianne Cosinas
