Агусан-дель-Сур мемлекеттік университетінің тарихы

Public university in Agusan del Sur, Philippines

The Agusan del Sur State University, formerly known as the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT), is a chartered state university in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Philippines through Republic Act (RA) No. 7932 approved on March 1, 1995, and RA No. 11586. To improve the farming practices of the people, MIS was later on converted into Manobo Farm School (MFS). During school year 1915–1916, a Grade V class was opened with Ellsworth Maxwell as principal and George L. Broxholm, Cornelio del Rosario, and Dedicación del Rosario as teachers. Pupils lived in Bunawan with their parents or relatives otherwise pupils coming from the municipalities of Cuevas, Trento, Libertad, Veruela, La Paz, Loreto, Prosperidad, Talacogon, San Luis, Esperanza and Lianga, Surigao were accommodated in the dormitory with free clothing, bedding, and subsistence. With the re establishment of the high school in Bunawan, parents began to enroll their children at the Bunawan Junior Agricultural High School (BJAHS) instead of in Mampising, Davao or in Ampayon, Butuan City. Raymundo Curato, the principal of Bunawan District, was designated to open the school as Farm Manager by Mariano Manaligod, Division Superintendent of Schools for Agusan; Enrique Paller, the Farm Manager of the School in Ampayon acted as officer in charge (OIC) of BJAHS until Jose F. Luna came as principal. Luna arrived in September 1948 and immediately moved to provide facilities, books, equipment, working animals, food and other needs until his replacement by Domingo C. Gabertan on August 4, 1949. 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). RA.#948 was approved on June 20, 1953, converting the school into Bunawan National Agricultural School (BUNAS). Five ICA NEC (FOA Philcusa) buildings were constructed: Vocational Agricultural Buildings, Homemaking Building, Farm Shop, Farm machineries, Granary and the concrete water tower. Gabertan, however, was transferred to Negros Occidental National Agricultural School in Kabankalan 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 continue to stay at the old site which was about 2 km until the old girls' dormitory was finished in 1958.

Felipe C. Galeon succeeded Gabertan as principal. During his time additional buildings were constructed like the girls' dormitory, social hall, and practice house, until his promotion to the General Office, Manila in the later part of 1960. Following Galeon as principal was Perfecto C. Boncato, who was transferred from Bilar Rural High School, Bilar, Bohol. Boncato was able to construct the Related Subjects and Home Management buildings, and laid out the school playground. When Boncato left in 1966, Arturo Cubangbang, Santiago T. Medrano, and Federico S. Zamora were temporarily designated as officers in charge until the transfer of Gregorio C. Alava, principal of Davao National Regional Agricultural School to BUNAS in school year 1966–1967. Alava was later replaced by Felipe C. Badua who was promoted as principal effective on June 23, 1967, and as vocational school administrator I on July 1, 1974, until his retirement on May 27, 1985. On June 21, 1969, the Bunawan National Agricultural School (BUNAS) was converted into Southern Agusan National Agricultural College (SANAC) through Republic Act No. 5917 which was sponsored by then Congressman Jose C. Aquino of Agusan. In the current 18th Congress Representative Eddiebong Plaza refiled the bill as HB 3184 and was transmitted to the Senate as HB 7019. Senator Marcos filed SBN 1689 as counterpart bill in the Upper House. The bill was taken up recently by the Committee on Higher and Technical Education. A thorough evaluation of ASSCAT was scheduled prior to Committee approval. On January 30, 2019, the Philippine House of Representatives received a report from the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, Appropriations, and Ways and Means recommending the approval of House Bill No. 8916 in substitution of House Bill No. 8263 converting the Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology into a state university to be known as the Agusan del Sur State University. On August 4, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed R. A 11586 which converts the state college into a university with its new name, Agusan del Sur State University.

The proceeds from Income Generating Projects (IGP) have augmented the services and facilities needed by the students and faculty. In particular, the amount repair of the building which is the Accreditation Center serving the three institutes came from the IGP. The oil palm, coffee and rubber plantation projects income helped for the repair and renovation of the ceilings of some old and dilapidated buildings. IGP proceeds were used for the concrete pavement on the school premises. The amount used for the construction of the College Cafeteria was taken from IGP proceeds. The college cafeteria functions as an IGP, but it has very limited income because nutritious foods were served at minimal costs. Organic rice farming and corn seed production are in the experimental stage. Vegetable growing is gaining popularity and prominence because of the use of organic fertilizer. Animal projects are on the break even phase but being maintained as Students Instructional Units (SIUs) necessary for the agricultural programs.