DOrSU-Baganga marks historic first graduation; Mayor Taya honors pioneer graduates
BAGANGA, DAVAO ORIENTAL — Davao Oriental State University–Baganga Campus marked a historic milestone as it held its Commencement Exercises on June 22, 2026, at the Baganga Municipal Gymnasium, producing its pioneering batch of graduates since the campus opened in 2022.
A total of 190 graduates from seven academic programs received their degrees during the ceremony. Leading the first graduating class was Keven Jay V. Pregon of the Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management program, who graduated Magna Cum Laude.
In his Commencement Address, Hon. Laureano B. Taya, Mayor of the Municipality of Baganga, honored the perseverance of the pioneering graduates and the sacrifices of the families, teachers, and community members who helped make their achievement possible.
“Your diploma is a symbol of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope,” Mayor Taya told the graduates. “It represents the dreams of your parents, the support of your teachers, and the aspirations of an entire community.”
Mayor Taya described the ceremony as the fulfillment of a long-held dream for the municipality: to make quality higher education accessible to Bagangueños without requiring them to leave home.
Recalling his own experience as a student, Mayor Taya shared that pursuing college education once meant leaving Baganga for the city, a difficult reality for many families who had to shoulder the cost of transportation, food, boarding houses, and other expenses. For many young people, he said, distance and financial hardship limited their opportunities and, in some cases, forced them to abandon their dream of earning a college degree.
“That was the reality many years ago. Education was inaccessible for many young people in Baganga. Opportunities were limited. Dreams were often constrained by distance and financial hardship,” Mayor Taya said.
He recognized that the establishment of DOrSU in Baganga changed this reality by bringing higher education closer to the homes of students, especially those who would otherwise have had difficulty pursuing college education outside the municipality.
Mayor Taya credited the collaboration among DOrSU, the Local Government Unit of Baganga, community stakeholders, and local leaders for turning the vision into reality. He also acknowledged the efforts of former Mayor Arturo Monday, then Congressman and now Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, and Congressman JR Dayanghirang in supporting the development of DOrSU and its campuses.
Addressing the graduates, Mayor Taya reminded them of their place in the history of DOrSU-Baganga.
“You are the pioneers. You are the first graduates of DOrSU Baganga Extension Campus. Your success becomes part of the history of this institution,” he said.
He urged the graduates to carry with them the values of hard work, integrity, compassion, and service as they begin the next chapter of their lives. He also encouraged them to use their education not only for personal advancement but also for the upliftment of their families, communities, and municipality.
Mayor Taya expressed hope that future generations of Bagangueños, especially learners from Indigenous Peoples communities and geographically isolated areas, would have greater access to quality education within their hometown.
For the pioneering graduates, the ceremony was more than the culmination of their academic journey. It was also a testament to the shared vision that brought DOrSU to Baganga and opened new pathways for students in the municipality and nearby communities.
The first Commencement Exercises of DOrSU-Baganga Campus signaled not only the success of its pioneer graduates but also the beginning of a new chapter for higher education in the municipality.
