About TMC
CESAR A. LIMBAGA, JR., Ph.D.
Chancellor
Message of the Tagum-Mabini Campus Chancellor
The current state of our environment presents us with valuable ideals and wisdom that can guide our choices and actions toward a future that is either perilous or filled with promise. As members of this generation, we have been equipped with a wealth of knowledge that promotes sustainable development. Nevertheless, we find ourselves confronted with the repercussions of the past, leading to adverse environmental and economic circumstances, along with complex social issues. These circumstances compel us to design effective measures that will protect our existence.
As we navigate the "new normal," we encounter additional challenges arising from recent global peace concerns. In our efforts to mitigate the impacts through any means necessary, it is crucial that we remain steadfast in our responsibilities and extend help in any viable form, contributing to solutions that foster sustainable growth and development. This realization should become ingrained in our being as we embark on our individual paths and face the realities of the world.
Furthermore, as Filipinos, we are blessed with innate ingenuity and resilience. We have always found ways to thrive in the face of adversity, drawing on perspectives that enable us to succeed even in the most difficult situations. Our collective experiences have taught us that during challenging times like these, we naturally unite around common ideals, empowering us as a society to endure and heal the wounds caused by significant disruptions. This resilience allows us to rise together from inevitable setbacks, showcasing the uniqueness and promise of Filipinos, which has earned us recognition within the ASEAN community.
Tracing back to its humble origins, in 1932, Theodore Roosevelt, the Governor-General of the Philippine Islands, issued Presidential Proclamation 460, which reserved the area for "settlement farm school purposes." This proclamation serves as the University of Southeastern Philippine Tagum-Mabini Campus' rightful claim as the occupant in the area. The occupancy of the site in Apokon, stipulated under Proclamation 460 by the Mampising Agricultural School (MAAS), is believed to have started in this year. After twenty-two years, in 1955, MAAS was renamed Mampising National Agricultural High School (MANAS), with its two campuses known as the MANAS-Mabini Campus and MANAS-Apokon Campus. Through Republic Act 2431, MANAS was converted to Davao National Regional School (DNRAS) in 1959, with the names DNRAS-Mabini and DNRAS-Apokon heard across the southeastern region. In the same year, DNRAS-Apokon Campus enrolled its first-year high school students.
Under Batas Pambansa Bilang 12, the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) was created on December 15, 1978. It was formed through the integration of four state institutions: Mindanao State University-Davao, University of the Philippines-Master of Management Program in Davao, Davao School of Arts and Trades in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, and Davao National Regional Agricultural School in Mabini, Davao de Oro.
Notably, the USeP Mabini Unit has the largest land area of 109 hectares, and the USeP Tagum Unit, with the second-largest land area of 77 hectares, was established in Barangay Apokon, Municipality of Tagum.
The founding year of 1978 witnessed the birth of the College of Forestry and Agriculture on the Campus, offering Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education (BSAgEd) as the first courses. In 1979, the University became fully operational, providing academic courses tailored to the needs of the emerging society. The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering (BSAE) was offered at USeP Tagum Unit (formerly known as USeP Tagum Campus), and the Bachelor of Science in Forestry (BSF) was offered at USeP Mabini Unit (formerly known as USeP Mampising Campus). Moving forward to 1985, the BS Forestry program was transferred from USeP Mabini Unit to USeP Mabini Unit.
In 1989, the USeP-Tagum Unit became a recipient of the ADB-funded Agricultural Technology Education Project under the DECS-EDPITAF and became a Provincial Technical Institute for Agriculture (PTIA). The Diploma in Agricultural Technology (DAT) and Bachelor of Agricultural Technology (BAT) were part of the program implementation.
In 1990, the Bachelor of Elementary Education was introduced on the Campus. Master's degree programs in Agriculture were also offered on the Campus in 1994, further establishing USeP as an agricultural university. In 1995, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Horticulture program was introduced.
From its inception until now, the university has every reason to be proud of its achievements in instruction, research, extension, production, and administration. During this period, the university has established itself as a center for development and academic excellence in local, national, and international landscapes, earning a reputation through its adherence to core values and dedication to quality and excellence in all its endeavors.
The University of Southeastern Philippines continues to produce and provide opportunities for aspiring professionals, making a significant impact through its diverse network of campuses, even in distant locations.
