Student leaders, Student Affairs and Services practitioners, public health professionals, legal experts, and government agencies came together during the 2026 Student Leaders Conference and ACHIEVE for Health and Well-Being Awards, organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Office I. The conference brought together representatives from higher education institutions across the Ilocos Region to examine the evolving landscape of student development and the policies, programs, and campus support systems that respond to the needs of today’s learners.
The discussions reflected the broad scope of student welfare in higher education, covering health and well-being, anti-hazing, HIV awareness and prevention, gender-responsive and safe campuses, and the continuing enhancement of Student Affairs and Services. Together, these conversations highlighted how student development extends beyond academic instruction, requiring coordinated institutional approaches that promote health, safety, inclusion, leadership, and access to appropriate support throughout the student experience.
Joining the multidisciplinary dialogue, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) highlighted the role of Drug Abuse Prevention Education within higher education institutions. Representing the DDB, Deputy Executive Director for Administration – Assistant Secretary Ma. Victoria Sorne shared findings from the 2023 National Household Survey on the Patterns and Trends of Drug Abuse, noting that adolescence and early adulthood remain critical periods for prevention. She discussed how life skills education, supportive school communities, and positive peer influence help equip young people to make healthy and informed decisions, emphasizing that effective prevention combines awareness with the practical competencies needed to navigate real-life situations.
Assistant Secretary Sorne likewise encouraged student leaders to become partners in promoting healthy lifestyles, positive peer influence, and community engagement, recognizing the valuable role they play in shaping campus culture. She also highlighted the DDB’s continuing collaboration with the CHED in advancing Drug Abuse Prevention Education through evidence-informed and life skills-based approaches integrated into higher education initiatives.
The discussions throughout the conference reflected the increasingly interconnected nature of student development, where education, health, safety, and prevention are addressed not as separate priorities, but as complementary elements of a learning environment that supports students in making informed decisions, exercising responsible leadership, and contributing positively to their communities.
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