MLQU and SSS Explore Strategic Partnership for Capacity Building and Professional Development

Manuel L. Quezon University (MLQU), in partnership with the Bayan Family of Foundations through the MLQ Academy, took a significant step towards expanding its role in public sector capacity building. On March 12, 2025, a high-level meeting was held at the Social Security System (SSS) Board Room, bringing together MLQU officials, led by Executive Vice President Lucille P. Ortile, and SSS executives, headed by President and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Robert Joseph M. De Claro.

The meeting focused on the proposal initiated by MLQU President and Chairman, Atty. Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., for a strategic partnership between MLQU and SSS aimed at addressing the capacity building, professional development, and upskilling needs of SSS personnel across the country. The proposal includes offering SSS employees access to MLQU’s regular degree programs, including its Juris Doctor and postgraduate studies—programs specifically designed and scheduled to accommodate working students.

EVP Ortile highlighted MLQU’s strategic location at the heart of Quezon City, in close proximity to the National Government Center, making it highly accessible and convenient for government employees. She emphasized MLQU’s reputation as a university for working professionals and underscored its strong roster of faculty members, who are both seasoned practitioners and respected academics. “Our faculty can deliver customized training programs tailored to the unique needs and functions of government employees,” Ortile said.

Prof. Mike De Jesus, who leads the MLQ Academy under the Bayan Family of Foundations, elaborated on the academy’s capacity to deliver stackable micro-credential courses and specialized training programs. These programs are designed to directly address the training and upskilling requirements of SSS personnel, providing flexibility and relevance to their professional roles.

A particularly exciting opportunity discussed during the meeting was the development of a postgraduate degree program—such as a Master in Business Administration (MBA) with a focused curriculum aligned with SSS organizational operations. This initiative aims to further enhance the managerial and operational competencies of SSS employees.

For his part, SSS President and CEO Mr. Robert Joseph M. De Claro expressed his enthusiasm for the potential collaboration. He welcomed MLQU’s proposal as aligned with his advocacy to promote employee welfare and career development within the SSS organization. “This partnership with MLQU holds great promise in empowering our people with new knowledge and skills essential to our mission of serving the Filipino people,” De Claro remarked.

The meeting concluded on a high note, with both parties expressing a shared commitment to work closely in crafting programs that are impactful and responsive to the needs of the SSS workforce.

With the proposed partnership, MLQU reaffirms its dedication to being an academic institution of higher learning that champions accessible, flexible, and high-quality education for working professionals in government service.