ASSCAT History

Mr. Luna arrived in September, 1948 and immediately moved to provide facilities, books, equipment, working animals, food and other needs of the school until his replacement by Mr. Domingo C. Gabertan on August 4, 1949. Mr. Domingo C. Gabertan decided to relocate the school campus on higher ground due to the yearly flooding on the old site. The present site now along the Agusan-Davao National Highway (Daang Maharlika). The RA No. 948 was approved on June 20, 1953 converting the school into Bunawan National Agricultural School (BUNAS). The construction of structure was realized such as five (5) ICA-NEC (FOA-Philcusa) buildings, Vocational Agricultural Buildings, granary and the concrete water tower. Mr. Gabertan, however, was transferred to Negros Occidental National Agricultural School in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental on August 16, 1956, after he was sent to the United States for one year advanced studies. The faculty and students held their classes in the new site but they continued to stay at the old site which was about 2 kilometers until the old Girls’ Dormitory was finished in 1958.

Mr. Felipe C. Galeon succeeded Mr. Gabertan as Principal of BUNAS. It was also during his time that additional buildings were constructed like the Girl’s dormitory, Social Hall, and Practice House, until his promotion to the General Office, Manila in the later part of 1960. Following Mr. Galeon as Principal of BUNAS was Mr. Perfecto C. Boncato, who was transferred from Bilar Rural High School, Bilar, Bohol.

During his term, Mr. Perfecto C. Boncato was able to construct the Related Subjects Building, a Home Management Building and laid out the school playground. When Mr. Boncato left in 1966, Mr. Arturo Cubangbang, Mr. Santiago T. Medrano and Mr. Federico S. Zamora were temporarily designated as school’s Officers-in-Charge one at a time until the detail of Mr. Gregorio C. Alava, Principal of Davao National Regional Agricultural School to BUNAS in school year 1966-1967. Mr. Alava was later replaced by Mr. Felipe C. Badua who was finally promoted as Principal of the school effective on June 23, 1967, and eventually as Vocational School Administrator I on July 1, 1974 until his retirement on May 27, 1985.

The Republic Act No. 5917, sponsored by former Congressman Jose C. Aquino of Agusan, converted the Bunawan National Agricultural School (BUNAS) into Southern Agusan National Agricultural College (SANAC) on June 21, 1969. Congressman Democrito O. Plaza during SY 1969-70 endorsed for the inclusion in the General Appropriations Act the funding requirements of the operations of SANAC.

The Circular No. 8 issued by the defunct Bureau of Vocational Education (BE) on October 4, 1974 authorized the school to offer the revised two-year Post-Secondary Agricultural Technician curriculum starting the second semester, school year 1974-1975. This was the result of the effort made by Gov. Valentina G. Plaza in inviting a team from BE. One hundred thirty three (133) students graduated from this course in five (5) batches until it was phased out in school year 1986-1987.

The Central Mindanao University (CMU) Off-Campus Institute at SANAC started offering the first year of the 4-year general collegiate academic course during the first semester of SY 1979-1980 with selected members of the faculty who were trained at CMU, Musuan, Bukidnon, for two summers, acting as affiliate instructors. The following year, second year subjects were offered. After the second, the CMU-off campus students were supposed to proceed to the CMU Main Campus for their third and fourth years, or to other colleges/universities of their choice. This program was in operation at SANAC for four (4) years until it was suspended at the beginning of SY 1983-1984 because the number of students who intend to enroll did not reach the desired number as required by school authorities.

On June 23, 1987, DECS Order No. 66, series of 1987 was issued granting authority to the school to operate the ladder-type Bachelor of Agricultural Technology (B.A.T.) course. The first two years of this course admitted both NCEE and non-NCEE qualifiers, leading to the Diploma in Agricultural Technology (D.A.T.), but only NCEE qualifiers can proceed to the third and fourth years leading to the Bachelor of Agricultural Technology (B.A.T) degree.

Mr. Nicasio T. Domingo Jr., who replaced Mr. Badua as Vocational School Administrator, exerted efforts to increase students’ achievement through upgrading the quality of instruction in different subjects, curriculum improvements, faculty and staff development; and acquisition of some needed field, laboratory, and library facilities. In school year 1989-1990, there was a 100% qualification in the NCEE among the fourth year students who took the examination and the school also produced its first batch of B.A.T. graduates, a significant milestone in this history of the college.

Mr. Nicasio T. Domingo was detailed in the DECS Regional Office, Region X, Cagayan de Oro City effective September 17, 1990, and Mrs. Ramona S. Nono, Administrative Officer II, was designated as Officer-in-Charge from the September 1990 to February 5, 1991.

On February 6, 1991, Mr. Cristeto Ra. Abrea, Vocational School Principal I of Kinoguitan National Agricultural School (KNAS), Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental was designated Officer-in-charge of SANAC.

Starting the Academic Year 1992-93, through DECS Order No. 88 s. 1992, two (2) academic programs were added namely; Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) major in Technology and Home Economics, and the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) with concentration in Work Education and with the initial offering of Laboratory Grade School.

On the same year, Congressman Ceferino S. Paredes Jr. sponsored Batas Pambansa House Bill No. 1432 and supported by the Senate Bill No. 1690 of Senator Edgardo J. Angara the conversion of SANAC into a state college. On March 1, 1995, His Excellency President Fidel V. Ramos signed RA No. 7932 converting SANAC into Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT). More degree programs were offered such as Diploma in Inland Fishery Technology (DIFT) leading to Bachelor in Inland Fishery Technology (BIFT), Bachelor of Science in Agro-Forestry (BSAF), and Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness and Information Technology (BSAIT).

Moreover, the DAT-BAT program was strengthen when ASSCAT was one of the four (4) identified institutions in Mindanao which availed the support and assistance from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and Education Development Projects Implementing Task Force (EDPITAF). The project gained bilateral funding from the Philippine-Australian Agricultural Technology Education Project (PA-AGRITECH) from 1996 to 2000. The 60 million pesos grant-in-aid for ASSCAT was in the form of refurbished theory room, library, farm mechanics shop, laboratories for science, crop and food processing, nursery, and Community Outreach Center (COC). Other facilities were also acquired such as computers, typewriters, overhead-projector, photocopier, recent edition of library books, course materials and other learning references. The faculty, staff and technical support also availed of the in-service training and seminars. Mr. Cristeto Ra. Abrea served as Office In-Charge of the Office of the President from 1995-1997 and became the first installed ASSCAT President on January 1997. Upon his retirement on January 2001, Dr. Roberto N. Padua, CHED Commissioner assumed as Chair of the Management Committee effective January 13, 2001 until August 22, 2001 while, Mr. Bernardino Z. Ente Jr., MPA served as OIC President from August 22, 2001 to February 13, 2002. During their terms, the Academic Development and Strategic Plan for 2001-2005 was approved by the Board of Trustees which served as blueprint for ASSCAT ascension to Agro-industrial Tourism University Park. During the academic year 2001-2002, numerous programs were offered such as: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, BSE major in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Technology and Livelihood Education, Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (BSAE), Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering (BSECE), Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT). Further, a purposive faculty and staff development program was planned to meet the academic requirements of the College. Meanwhile, the vigorous upgrading and improvement of facilities was pursued namely; major refurbishment of the Administration building, renovation of Engineering building, construction of Paredes building, establishment of Zoological-Botanical Garden, and acquisition of laboratory equipment and apparatuses.

The second ASSCAT President, Dr. Doroteo E. Jaquias served the College from February 13, 2002 – October 24, 2011, for two (2) terms. During his leadership, he blazed the trail towards excellence, quality and access. The program offerings were added with Bachelor of Science in Agriculture major in Agronomy, Animal Science, and Horticulture. The complete curricular years of BS in Agriculture major in Horticulture in extension class in Loreto, Agusan del Sur and the Bachelor of Agricultural Technology at Surigao del Norte College of Agriculture and Technology (SNCAT) at Magpayang, Mainit, Surigao del Norte were offered. However, due to inadequacy and limitation of resources the Arts and Sciences programs and the elementary laboratory school were rationalized. It is also during his term in year 2003 that the College was recognized as member to the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP) Inc. On December 6-9, 2005, the College undergone AACCUP formal survey on its three (3) programs. After three (3) years, the following programs were accredited to Level 1 on December 10-12, 2008 namely; BS in Agriculture major in Horticulture, BS Agribusiness, BS Agroforestry, BS in Agricultural Engineering and BS Information Technology. As of December 2010, the three (3) program offerings of the College earned a Level 2 accreditation status while the six (6) have a Level 1 status. In the aspect of infrastructure, Dr. Jaquias also implemented numerous construction such as completion of the Audio-Visual Center, circumferential road, comfort room in Basic Education, and Administration building (phase 1). The College was also recognized as Most Enterprising SUC in Caraga region because of the robust income generating projects of the College which eventually led to a national recognition from CHED as the National University/College Awardee (NUCA) in the Caraga region on August 14, 2009 pursuant to Commission enbanc Resolution No. 221-2009. The College also retained the institutional position as SUC Level II evaluated by the CHED and the DBM in year 2017. The research and extension functions likewise demonstrated prominence by considerable number of researches conducted, presented and published which eventually utilized by the community beneficiaries. While the production function flourished as the agricultural projects continued to generate revenues that augment the College’s funding requirements.

On October 25, 2011, Dr. Juarlito V. Garcines was officially appointed as 3rd ASSCAT President. During his presidency in 2012 marked the opening of the graduate programs namely; Master of Science in Agriculture majors in Agronomy, Animal Science and Horticulture pursuant to BOT Resolution No. 24, s. 2012. Further, the two-year Diploma in Fishery Technology (DIFT) and the Teacher’s Compliance Certificate (TCC) were offered per BOT Resolution No. 48, s. 2013. In 2017, the offering of Arts and Sciences programs (Bachelor of Arts Major in English Language, Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics) were re-offer which was duly approved pursuant to BOT Resolution No. 13 series of 2017. On July 10, 2015 by virtue of BOT Resolution No. 38, series of 2015 the Memorandum of Agreement on management of the External Studies Center in Trento, Agusan del Sur was transferred from Bukidnon State University to the ASSCAT.

As a strategy in improving the quality of education, all programs of the College are recognized by the AACCUP as Level III-Phase I in December 2015. In the effort to continue the pursuit for quality and excellence in the delivery of educational services, the College periodically submits to accreditation hence, as of 2017, the updated status and validity of accreditation is shown on the Table 2 in the succeeding page.

Currently, the College is implementing the continual improvement in all its processes, systems, resources and structure to provide to the stakeholders its deliverables in terms of quality, accessible and excellent tertiary education and services for the students, personnel and community.