BANGUED, Abra (PIA) — The University of Abra (UA) was officially launched during a ceremony and University Founder’s Day celebration on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in Bangued, Abra.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis, UA House Bill initiator and sponsor Congressman JB Bernos, Congresswoman Ching Bernos, Governor Eustaquio Bersamin, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members led by Vice Governor Anne Bersamin, and OIC-President Serafin Ngohayon led the ceremonial transition of the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology into UA.
“Today we unwrap the gift to the people of Abra by no less than our President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. We are unwrapping the gift he bestowed to Abra in 1966, and we are unwrapping it today under the administration of his son, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” Agrupis said.
She committed CHED’s continuous support to the university’s growth and pursuit of its mandates.
“We look forward to working with you and the entire university community as you translate this new status into greater opportunities for your students and a stronger contribution to the development of Abra,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Congressman Bernos, who initiated and sponsored House Bill 7030 that paved the way for the enactment of Republic Act 11574, expressed gratitude to every stakeholder who assisted in achieving a decade-long dream for Abra’s first university.
“I wanted to file in Congress the conversion of ASIST to the University of Abra for the simple reason nga I really wanted to secure the future of each and every Abreño. Kayat ko nga ma-secure iti masakbayan dagiti agtutubo nga Abreño,” he said.
Bernos shared plans to expand the university, particularly by expanding its campuses to the towns of La Paz and Pilar and adding more courses such as Veterinary Medicine and Nursing.
During the program, the new University Flag and University Hymn were also unveiled.
Currently, the UA serves around 10,000 students in its three campuses in Lagangilang, Bangued, and La Paz.
The conversion of the UA from ASIST started with House Bill 7030 filed by Congressman Bernos and Senate Bill 1733 sponsored by Senator Imee Marcos. The bill was signed into law by then-President Rodrigo Duterte in 2021. Its official university status was confirmed by CHED on August 10, 2026.
The transition ceremony was also witnessed by the mayors, vice-mayors, and councilors from the different Abra towns, students, faculty, national line agency representatives, the community, and other stakeholders. **JDP/JJMT-PIA CAR, Abra
