USC and LCO gear up for the Upcoming University Days

The Caraga State University (CSU) University Student Council (USC) and the League of Campus Organization (LCO) with the CSU Key Officials are now gearing for the University Days preparation set on February 12-15, 2018.

Leading the students are USC President John Renner M. Virtudazo, and LCO President Chrisfrenhower C. Hidalgo with USC Senator Michelle Joyce Pag-ong who sat with the University Key officials and other University Days celebration Committee members lead by Vice President for Administration Armie Leila M. Mordeno and Vice President for Academic Affairs Rolando N. Paluga for the plotting of the University days activities.

The LCO and the USC have tentatively scheduled the following activities:

The CSU family are all excited to celebrate the University’s 72^nd year, as a school. CSU was first conceived in 1918 as the Agusan Agriculture High School thru the passage of an Omnibus Bill filed by the first congresswoman of the Philippines Elisa Rosales Ochoa. On February 14, 1920, Proclamation Number 4 was passed by the American Governor to the Philippines Francis Burton Harrison, declaring the reservation of a 232-hectare virgin forest land in Barrio Ampayon, in the Municipality of Butuan, province of Agusan del Norte as the grounds of the young school. It was at the close of World War II in 1946 that the Agusan Agricultural High School (AAHS) was established in the reserved area.CSU’s land site should have been on its 98^th year. Two more years then, and CSU will be a hundred year old.

The first framework of the school building was laid down in 1937. However the development of the school was deferred as the government deviated to giving priority to serve the Manobo cultural minority by creating the Bunawan Agricultural High School in Agusandel Sur. It was at the close of World War II in 1946 that the Agusan Agricultural High School was established in the reserved area. The funding for the establishment of the school came from the Rehabilitation Act of 1946, the FAO-PHILCUSA, and the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia contingency fund.

After 17 years, in June 22, 1963, Republic Act 3604 was passed converting the school into the Northern Mindanao Agricultural College (NORMINAC). NORMINAC was among the 13 pilot experimental agricultural high school chosen by the Department of Education and Culture (DEC) for World Bank Assistance through the Central Bank Development of Education Agricultural Loan Fund (CB-DEC-ALF) which was the umbrella of the Educational Project Implementing Task Force (EDPITAF) in 1974-1975. Moreover, NORMINAC became the training center for the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC).

In collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute, the school was instrumental in the discovery of the zinc deficiency problem of the Agusan Land. The technological breakthrough solved the puzzle of poor rice harvests in many rice fields in Agusan and the surrounding areas.

As Caraga Region rapidly grew and developed, House Bill No. 25 was passed by the then Assemblyman Antonio R. Tupaz converting NORMINAC to the Northern Mindanao State Institute of Science and Technology (NORMISIST). The House Bill became Batas PambansaBlg. 241 when President Ferdinand Marcos signed it into law on November 11, 1982.

In 2009, Congressman Jose "Joboy" S. Aquino with Cong. Edelmiro M. Amante filed House Bill Number 5110 at the House of Representatives with Senator Mar A. Roxas and Senator Migs Zubiri in the Senate. HBN 5110 was approved in the Senate on November 16, 2009. On December 16, 2009, HBN 5110 was signed and approved into law by the then President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo through Republic Act 9854, and Caraga State University came into being. History has a lot to tell and CSU continues to grow and to shine its own star. LMC/piaea