Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) continues to play a strong and active role in shaping national higher education policies and advancing sustainable development as it joins the 2025 PASUC Midterm Convention and General Assembly from July 9 to 11 at SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

With the theme “Forging the Future: Empowering SUCs through Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence,” the event gathers over 1,000 SUC leaders nationwide, focusing on bold reforms in digital transformation, research productivity, internationalization, and workforce development.

Among the key updates from the convention is the announcement of new plantilla positions under Phase II of the Revised Organizational Structure and Staffing Standards (ROSSS), as confirmed by DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman. This reform directly benefits ASSCAT’s capacity to scale up research, extension, and community-based livelihood initiatives, allowing it to serve more farmers, students, and local industries across Agusan del Sur.

As highlighted by PASUC President and Batangas State University President Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo in his annual report, strong collaboration among SUCs is essential in driving innovation, community-responsive programs, and national development goals. ASSCAT has long been at the forefront of such efforts, pushing local development through education, research, and community partnerships.

This year’s convention also featured key messages from education leaders that strongly resonate with ASSCAT’s ongoing mission. CHED Commissioner Dr. Marita R. Canapi urged SUCs to maintain high standards in academic quality, international partnerships, and social responsibility. CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis challenged SUCs to go beyond compliance and instead deliver measurable impact—an approach already embedded in ASSCAT’s core programs. Meanwhile, Dr. Karol Mark R. Yee, Executive Director of EDCOM II, called attention to urgent reforms in free higher education, focusing on resource gaps and proposing solutions to enhance SUC efficiency and effectiveness.

ASSCAT’s delegation, led by College President Dr. Joy C. Capistrano, Vice President for Research, Innovation, Development and Extension Affairs Dr. Ferdinand A. Dumalagan, and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance Dr. Carmelo S. Llanto, ensures that the unique challenges and aspirations of Agusan del Sur remain represented in these national conversations.

ASSCAT’s participation in this convention is a reaffirmation of its consistent role as a force for local and national progress, ensuring that public higher education continues to deliver meaningful, lasting impact for the communities it serves.