DOrSU, Don Bosco Training Center ink agreement for AGAK Program
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) and the Don Bosco Training Center, Mati-Inc. (DBTC) formally sealed their partnership through the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) held on January 22, 2026, at the DOrSU Boardroom.
The agreement sets the framework for joint initiatives under the AGAK: Academic Guidance, Assistance, and Kaagapay Program, focusing on skills development, capacity-building, and community-based programs that broaden access to training and help improve learners’ employment prospects.
In his message of commitment, DOrSU President Dr. Roy G. Ponce recalled the institutions’ long-standing collaboration and welcomed what he described as a strengthened partnership—one he said aligns with the University’s regenerative futures vision and its evolving niche and branding.
“Under the regenerative futures philosophy of ‘mutual thriving,’ we are partners, and our problem is not just about academics,” Dr. Ponce emphasized. “In Davao Oriental, one of the biggest concerns is poverty, and one way is really to equip our people with skills and competencies.”
In response, DBTC Rector Fr. Fernando V. Peralta, SDB, expressed gratitude and said the partnership supports Don Bosco’s mission of expanding opportunities for those most in need.
“We have been helping those who have less in life by giving them proper training and equipping them with skills so they can access better employment opportunities,” Fr. Peralta said. He also noted that several DBTC faculty members are DOrSU graduates and Don Bosco scholars, reflecting what he described as the institutions’ shared work in building human capital in the province. “Thank you for your guidance, for sharing your expertise. We hope you will continue to help us become more proficient so we can help more of the poor,” he added.
While the MOA outlines operational arrangements for joint activities, both institutions emphasized the agreement’s broader intent: strengthening training pathways and community support systems, and addressing persistent social challenges through shared programs and coordinated action.
