DOrSU, LGU Caraga ink MOA to explore establishment of external classes
Davao Oriental State University (DOrSU) and the Municipal Government of Caraga have formalized a partnership to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed establishment of DOrSU external classes in the municipality.
University President Dr. Roy G. Ponce and Caraga Municipal Mayor Ronie S. Osnan led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on September 7, setting in motion a feasibility study to determine the viability of offering DOrSU programs in the municipality.
The feasibility study will assess local conditions and demand for higher education, identify academic programs that may be viable in Caraga, and examine the institutional, operational, and financial requirements for the proposed external classes.
For Dr. Ponce, expanding access should come without compromising the quality of education delivered by the University.
“We are able to bring the quality of education to our extension campuses,” he said, pointing to the performance of DOrSU students in licensure examinations, including graduates from extension campuses who have posted high passing rates and produced topnotchers.
Dr. Ponce also highlighted Caraga’s distinct natural, cultural, and historical heritage, noting the opportunities for an educational presence that is responsive to the municipality’s communities, including its Indigenous Peoples.
He said the University shares the LGU’s mission of improving the lives of its constituents and assured Caraga of DOrSU’s full support for the undertaking.
“We have one mission: to elevate the lives of our constituents. The University is one with the mission of the LGU,” Dr. Ponce said. He expressed hope that, following the necessary studies and processes, DOrSU could begin offering classes in Caraga by August 2027.
Mayor Osnan, meanwhile, assured the University of the municipal government’s full commitment to the initiative, describing the proposed establishment of DOrSU external classes as a priority of his administration.
He underscored the practical impact of having a university closer to home, particularly for students who would otherwise have to leave Caraga to pursue a college education. Studying within the municipality, he said, would allow students to remain near their families and support systems while reducing the cost of boarding, transportation, and other living expenses associated with studying away from home.
Mayor Osnan also thanked the Sangguniang Bayan, municipal officials, and education stakeholders, including Department of Education administrators and teachers, for supporting the initiative.
The partnership marks an initial but significant step toward a possible DOrSU presence in Caraga. The findings of the feasibility study will provide the basis for determining whether the proposed external classes can be sustainably established and what programs would best respond to the educational needs and development priorities of the municipality.
