MILESTONE
Davao del Sur State College (DSSC), the sole state college in Davao del Sur, is located in Barangay Matti, Digos City. It was formerly known as the Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) – Digos Campus.
1989 – Establishment of Digos Campus
Under the leadership of Dr. Francisco C. Ladaga, Sr., SPAMAST initiated the development of the Digos Campus. A total of 17.5 hectares of land were acquired through purchases and donations from private agencies and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Davao del Sur to support laboratory and instructional activities.
1995 – Expansion to Matanao
An additional 30 hectares of land in Matanao, Davao del Sur were acquired to serve as a production, research, and extension site, strengthening the institution’s role in agricultural development within the province.
2000 – Campus Reorganization
As academic offerings expanded, SPAMAST reorganized its campuses into colleges. The Digos Campus was renamed the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS), with Matanao serving as its laboratory and production area.
2016–2017 – Legislative Steps Toward Conversion
The move to convert the Digos Campus into a state college began with the filing of House Bill No. 3927 in 2016, followed by House Bill No. 5243 in 2017. These measures were later consolidated into House Bill No. 6715, which was approved by the House of Representatives on December 11, 2017.
2018 – Congressional Approval
The Senate approved the Conference Committee Report on November 27, 2018, and Congress ratified the final version of the bill the following day, paving the way for the creation of DSSC.
2019 – Birth of Davao del Sur State College
On February 21, 2019, the bill was signed into law as Republic Act No. 11220, officially establishing Davao del Sur State College as the 112th public higher education institution in the Philippines.
2019 – CHED Certification
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) certified the conversion of DSSC through CHED En Banc Resolution No. 494-2019 dated August 13, 2019, confirming compliance with all regulatory requirements.
2019–2020 – Transition Leadership
Dr. Maricar Casquejo, CHED Region XI Director, served as Officer-in-Charge of DSSC from December 12, 2019 to September 27, 2020, ensuring a smooth transition to full autonomy.
2020 – Appointment of the First President
On September 28, 2020, the DSSC Board of Trustees approved the appointment of Dr. Augie E. Fuentes as the First President of the College.
Present – Academic Structure and Campuses
DSSC currently operates through six institutes:
Institute of Agriculture and Related Sciences (IARS)
Institute of Business Education and Governance (IBEG)
Institute of Teacher Education (ITEd)
Institute of Mathematics, Arts, and Sciences (IMAS)
Institute of Computing, Engineering, and Technology (ICET)
Institute of Graduate and Professional Education (IGPE)
The College also maintains extension campuses in Matanao, Sulop, and Kapatagan.
