DAVAO del Sur State College (DSSC) received its new Agriculture and Development Communication (DevComm) Academic Building on August 19, 2026, at its main campus, marking the completion of a construction project that began in March 2022.
The facility is expected to support the college's pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 4, which promotes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Phase 1 of the project, formally titled the Establishment of a Three-Storey Green Technology Earthquake-Proof Agriculture and DevComm Academic Building, was implemented by DSSC, with NLC Construction and Services as the contractor.
Construction began on March 14, 2022, and Phase 1 was completed on December 23 of the same year. Phase 2 followed, with Equicon Engineering Services taking over as contractor on December 26, 2024.
The turnover ceremony began with a blessing, followed by the formal handover of the facility, graced by Davao del Sur Governor Yvonne Roña Cagas. Representatives from the college and implementing agencies, contractors, faculty and staff, and students attended the event.
The building will serve DSSC's agriculture and development communication programs, with students enrolled in the current academic year among the first to use the new facility.
DSSC was formerly the Digos Campus of the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (Spamast).
The move to establish an independent state college began with the filing of House Bill No. 3927 during the 17th Congress on October 3, 2016, by then Davao Occidental Rep. Lorna P. Bautista-Bandigan. The measure sought to separate the Digos City Campus from Spamast.
Former Davao del Sur Representative Mercedes “Didi” Cagas subsequently filed House Bill No. 5243 on March 14, 2017, seeking to convert the Spamast campuses in Davao del Sur into the Davao del Sur State College.
The measures were later consolidated into House Bill No. 6715, which eventually became Republic Act No. 11220. The House of Representatives approved the measure on December 11, 2017.
The Senate approved the Conference Committee Report on November 27, 2018, while Congress ratified the final version the following day.
On February 21, 2019, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure into law, officially establishing DSSC as the 112th public higher education institution in the Philippines.
In a 2022 message during the province's Monday Convocation, DSSC President Dr. Augie E. Fuentes credited the Cagas family, particularly former congresswoman Mercedes “Didi” Cagas, for their role in establishing the institution.
Fuentes said she remained grateful for former Rep. Cagas' “dedication and vision in establishing DSSC,” which she said had made a positive impact on Davao del Sur.
“Sir Marc and Gov. Yvonne, rest assured that we will continue the legacy of your father, our former father of Davao del Sur, Governor Dodo Cagas, and his dreams and aspirations, together with our mother, the mother of DSSC, kay siya ang author, siya g’yud ang nag lead didto sa Congress and to the Senate nga ma-approved g’yud ang conversion, our very own Madam Didi Cagas,” Fuentes said. CEA WITH REPORTS FROM PR
