State University to Complement DavOr’s Tourism

DAVAO ORIENTAL — The Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology (DOSCST), in its impending conversion into a State University, is said to boost the province’s bid to become a premiere tourism destination in Mindanao. DOSCST President Dr. Edito B. Sumile says that the college envisions integrating the college as part of the province’s tourism development. “That is why in our own little way we also preparing ourselves to complement the province’s development,” said Dr. Sumile in a media forum not so long ago at the Provincial Capitol. “As an academic institution we should always bring the brand name of the province,” he added, noting the State College’s noticeable changes as far as infrastructure and facility modernization is concerned, which has been drawing a lot of enrollees.

From only about 4,000 students in 2011, the college’s population ballooned to 9,800 in 2017, prompting the college to make way for groundbreaking improvements that will complement its bid to become a State University. This influx of freshmen students is attributed to the affordable tuition fee and various curricular programs offered. This year, 3,782 students are set to receive their diploma. Aside from drawing enrollees and producing more graduates, the college’s progress has also been enticing funding institutions’ support for the college’s further development. This year, the college is working on a Php300 million budget which includes its internally generated income.

Currently, the college has been fast tracking the construction of a three-story administration building and a three-story library building. A three-story dormitory for its graduate program students is also being eyed to be put up. In terms of facilities, the college flaunts its electronic library, among many others, where students can readily access information through the Internet. Dr. Sumile further said that there are more than a hundred teaching staff who were sent for a doctorate and master’s degree scholarship under the K+12 transition fund. He also underscored the “huge help of the Provincial Government that has been a vital partner in achieving all these accomplishments.” The House Bill 4218 which bears the proposed conversion of the State College into Davao Oriental State University is currently deliberated at the House of Representatives and is hoped to be passed into law within this year, as DOSCT’s academic programs are preparing for Level IV accreditation at the National level. (with Riza M. Golez)