By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) has officially been granted university status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday, March 15,, paving the way for its conversion into the Agusan del Sur State University (ADSSU).
The recognition was approved through CHED Commission En Banc Resolution No. 060-2026 after the institution met the commission’s institutional requirements for university status.
ADSSU is the third state university in the Caraga region after the Caraga State University in Butuan City and Northeastern Mindanao State University in Tandag City in Surigao del Sur.
The conversion stemmed from Republic Act No. 11586, which mandated the elevation of ASSCAT into a state university subject to compliance with standards set by CHED. The law originated from House Bill No. 7019 authored by Adolph Edward G. Plaza, representative of the second district of Agusan del Sur.
Following the enactment of the law, the college underwent a series of institutional evaluations to determine whether it satisfied the requirements for university status, including standards on academic programs, research capability, faculty qualifications, and governance.
The university community welcomed the approval, describing it as a milestone for higher education in the province.
Plaza, who accepted the Certificate of Compliance for University Status during the recognition ceremony, said the transition marks a historic moment for the institution and the people of Agusan del Sur.
“Today certainly marks a historic and deeply meaningful moment for our Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology — or shall we say now, the Agusan del Sur State University,” Plaza said.
He said the new university is expected to strengthen its focus on scientific agriculture, particularly in soil science research, soil nutrient management and crop suitability studies—fields seen as crucial for improving agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable rural development.
Plaza also cited the university’s partnerships with international and national research institutions such as the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, as well as collaborations with other state universities including Mariano Marcos State University.
For decades, ASSCAT has served as a gateway to higher education for students from farming communities in Agusan del Sur, particularly children of smallholder farmers who seek tertiary education in agriculture and related fields.
Provincial leaders expressed hope that the conversion will encourage more young people to pursue agricultural courses and contribute to the modernization of the country’s farming sector.
CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis and the commission en banc were also thanked by the university community for guiding the institution through the evaluation process.
With its new status, the Agusan del Sur State University is expected to expand its role in advancing higher education, research and community development in the province and across the Caraga region.
Plaza said the recognition should be seen not as the end of the institution’s journey but the start of a broader mission.
“Becoming a university is not the end of a journey — it is the beginning of a greater mission,” he said. “Together, we will continue to build an institution that transforms communities, advances scientific knowledge, and contributes meaningfully to national development.”
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