Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges

About

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges is a state college in Nabua, Camarines Sur, Philippines. It is mandated primarily to provide higher technological, professional and vocational instruction and training in fisheries, trade, as well as short term technical and vocational courses, as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary, and shall promote research in the exploration and conservation of natural resources in the province. Its main campus is located in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, popularly known as CSPC, was the brainchild of some prominent Nabueños who have long dreamt of having a community college in Nabua. Its establishment came into reality as a result of the feasibility study initiated by the defunct Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP). Said undertaking is an inter-agency commitment with the aim of promoting a balance agro-industrial development in the region to achieve the national development goals of the 1980s. The idea of having a community college within Nabua was first conceived by then Municipal Mayor, Atty. Ulpiano D. Duran, Sr. so that poor and deserving Nabueños who wish to take post-secondary and collegiate courses could be freed from the burden of going to other places and save a lot of their education. With the support of his Vice Mayor, Hon. Sofio Barela, Sr., the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) passed a resolution for the creation of a community college within the Nabua National High School. Atty. Duran submitted the resolution to then-Camarines Sur Governor Felix A. Fuentebella for approval and funding assistance. Considering the merit of the request, Governor Fuentebella endorsed the proposal to BRBDP Director Col. Lorenzo Ballecer, a Nabueño, who then initiated the conduct of the feasibility study by his technical staff with the assistance of some personnel of Nabua National High School (NNHS). In the course of the study, the team did not only consider the establishment of a community college but also the possibility of putting up a state tertiary institution in the area. As a result of the study conducted, it came out to be very promising if a polytechnic college would be created.

With the very strong representation of his father, Assemblyman Arnulfo P. Fuentebella sponsored a bill creating a polytechnic college of NNHS using the result of the feasibility as basis, which later became Batas Pambansa (BP) Bilang 512, approved by the President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 10, 1983.

Sec. 2 of BP 512 states that:“The College shall primarily provide higher technological, professional, and vocational instruction and training in fisheries, trades and technology, arts and sciences, as well as short term technical and vocational courses, as the Board of Trustees may deem necessary, and shall promote research in the exploration and conservation of natural resources in the province.”The immediate targets are the graduates of the barangay, private and public high schools, out of school youths and dropouts within Rinconada area, which comprises six municipalities and one city: Nabua, Baao, Bula, Bato, Buhi, Balatan and Iriga City. The first organizational meeting of the college was held on February 22, 1985, at the Provincial Capitol of Camarines Sur. Deputy Minister Vedasto G. Suarez who represented the MECS Minister Jaime C. Laya, presided over the meeting. Government officials present were: Hon. Felix A. Fuentebella, Governor; Atty. Fernando O. Beriña, Provincial Kagawad; Atty. Ulpiano D. Duran Sr., Municipal Mayor; Dir. Carmelo R. Villacorta, BRBDP Director; Dr. Franciscpo Pili, BFAR Director; Dr. Ciriaco N. Divinagracia, CSSAC President; Engr. Aproniano Los Baños, Provincial Engineer; Mr. Constancio Cater, Provincial Administrator; Mr. Germites C. Dineros, NNHS Principal; Atty. Magno Catabijan Sr., MECS Legal Officer; and Atty. John Imlan, PASUC Administrative Officer. An Ad Hoc Committee was created headed by Dr. Ciriaco N. Divinagracia, the designated officer-in-charge. The committee was tasked to prepare the implementing guidelines for the operationalization of the college. During its second organizational meeting on April 1, 1985, the implementing guidelines were approved and Provincial Kagawad Fernando O. Beriña was designated Officer-in-Charge. With only 11 personnel; five full-time instructors and six administrative personnel, the college has initially managed to run its affair. A total approximation of five hundred thousand pesos (₱500,000.00) was approved by the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur for the 1985 operation of the college as provided for in BP 512. Thereafter, the operation and maintenance shall be incorporated in the subsequent General Appropriation Act.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.