Historical Milestone

To appreciate and understand the important roles of SUCs, it is necessary to have brief overview on the historical milestones of public state universities and colleges. During the founding of the First Philippine Republic in 1898, there was no state university in existence. However, there was one private university, the University of Santo Tomas, which was founded in 1611 and was granted the titles as Royal University in 1785, Pontifical University in 1902, and Catholic University in 1947.

During the American Regime from 1901 to 1934, the first state university, the University of the Philippines, was founded in 1908. From 1935 to 1946 during the Philippine Commonwealth, after World War II during the First Republic from 1947-1965, there were 11 (9.9%) state universities and colleges created. In the first six years of the Marcos Regime from 1966 to 1971, there were three (3 or 2.7%) SUCs; six (6 or 5.41%) during the Martial Rule; and 44 (39.64%) in the New Republic from 1978 to 1985 or a total of 53 SUCs created during the Marcos era. Almost half of the SUCs were created during the administration of President Marcos.

From the EDSA Revolution during the Aquino Administration in 1986 to 1991, there were eight (8 to 7.21%) SUCs created. From 1992 to 1997 during the Marcos Administration, there were 16 (14.41%) and 22(19.82%) during the Estrada-Arroyo Administration from 1998 to 2002, making a present total of 111 SUCs.

Hence, the growth of SUCs seemed fast only because within such a short period from 1972 to 1997, several SUCs were established. But for the country as a whole that puts high value and emphasis on education as one of the most inportant factors in enhancing its economic development, the present number of SUCs can still be considered as timely and rational.

However, there is anuneven distribution of SUCs. The National Capital Region (5 or 14.70%) and Region III - Central Luzon (5 or 14.70%) have the highest number of universities.

The NCR has a population of 5,194,328 with ages 15 to 44 years old who are ready to go to college and for advanced education. This numner comprises about 52.57% of the total of all ages in the region and 6.80% of the total population of the Philippines in 2000. Central Luzon (Region III) has a population of 3,403,041 or 42.42% of all ages in the region and 4.46% of the total population in the Philippines with ages 15 to 44 years old who should be in college or in graduate school.

There are four (4) universities in the Ilocos Region with a university age group population of 1,921,748 or 45.80% of all ages in the region and 2.52% of the total population of the country. There are also four (4) state universities in  Southern tagalog with a high population of 5,580, 858 belonging to university age group whose ages are 15 to 44 or 47.44% of the total of all ages in the region and 7.31% of the total national population. All the other regions have one (1) to three (3) except the Caraga and ARMM that have no university at all.

The Western Visayas and Eastern Visayas Regions have nin (9) state colleges each followed by eight (8) in Central Luzon, the lowest of which is Ilocos Region with only one (1) state college. The Western Visayas Region has a population 2,781,184 who belong to the university age group of 14 to 44 years old, comprising 44.84% of the total for all ages in the region and 3.64% of the national population. The Eastern Visayas Region has a population of 1,488,872 who belong to the university age group ranging from 15 to 44 years old, which is 41.31% of the  total for all age groups in the region, and 1.95% of the national total population. All other regions have two (2) to seven (7) state colleges.

As a whole, Central Luzon Region has the highest number of SUCs (13 or 11.75%), followed by Eastern Visayas (12 or 10.81%) and Southern Tagalog together with Western Mindanao Region with 11 or 9.91% each. All other regions have SUCs ranging from three (3) in ARMM to eight (*) in Bicol Region. The number of SUCs in proportion to the university age group population per region shows that the highest number of students served by each state university or college present in the region is NCR with 742,047 students in the next 25 years. In the case of Central Luzon Region that has the highest number of SUCs, one (1) institution can serve relatively 261,772 students in the next 25 years.

Vision of PASUC

All state universities and colleges being under the higher education system of the Philippines (CHED, 2001) are envisioned as "Key players in the education and integral formation of professionally competent, service-oriented, principled and productive citizens". Through instruction, research, and extension services, "SUCs are prime movers of the nation's socio economic growth and sustainable development". All SUCs patterned their institutional visions after this national vision, primarily to address the regional needs for quality education in particular and the national and international level in general.

Mission of PASUC

All SUCs under the higher education system of the Philippines are mandated (CHED 20010 to:

1. Offer programs and services that meet the demands of an industrializing economy within the context of sustainable development and a culture of peace, as well as the challenges of a diverse and globalized society,

2. Nurture an academic environment that fosters intergrated learning, creative and critical thinking, appreciation of cultural diversity and national knowledge identity,  and inculcates moral values;

3. Conduct research to support instruction, create new knowledge, and enhance the quality of life of society, and

4. Undertake extension programs and services that facilitate the transfer of technology, foster leadership and promote self-reliance among the less privileged in Philippine society.

Excerpt:

STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES PROFILE UPDATE 2003
Volume 1: Patterns and Trends of Growth and Development in Selected SUCs in the Philippines.