SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro — Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC) officially attained university status on June 17, 2026, marking a historic milestone for higher education in the province as it formally became Occidental Mindoro State University (OMSU).
The transition took effect following the approval of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commission En Banc, which confirmed the institution’s compliance with the requirements prescribed for state universities under Republic Act No. 11587. The law, signed on July 30, 2021, authorized the conversion of OMSC into a state university subject to the fulfillment of CHED standards and quality assurance requirements.
University officials described the development as the culmination of years of preparation and institutional development involving administrators, faculty members, staff, students, alumni, local government partners, and stakeholders.
The conversion grants the institution full university status, allowing it to further expand its academic offerings, strengthen research and innovation programs, enhance extension services, and deepen its contribution to the socio-economic development of Occidental Mindoro and the broader MIMAROPA region.
Republic Act No. 11587 provides that Occidental Mindoro State University shall offer undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as education, engineering, science and technology, information and communications technology, agriculture, forestry, business administration, criminology, architecture, accountancy, and other relevant disciplines. The law also mandates the university to undertake research, extension, and production activities that support regional development and the preservation of the province’s unique natural and cultural resources, including the critically endangered tamaraw.
Under the law, the university’s main campus remains in Barangay Labangan, San Jose, while its existing campuses in San Jose, Sablayan, Mamburao, and Lubang continue to operate as part of the university system.
The granting of university status comes after years of compliance efforts by OMSC to satisfy CHED’s requirements, including the development of qualified faculty, expansion of academic programs, enhancement of research outputs, strengthening of learning resources, and establishment of institutional linkages. These standards are intended to ensure that state colleges seeking university status are capable of delivering advanced instruction, research, and public service at a higher level.
Education leaders and stakeholders welcomed the development, noting that university status is expected to increase opportunities for students, faculty members, and researchers while improving the institution’s capacity to attract partnerships, funding, and investments in higher education.
The achievement also positions OMSU to play a larger role in advancing regional development priorities, producing skilled professionals, and contributing to nation-building through quality instruction, research, innovation, and community engagement.
For the Occidental Mindoro academic community, the transition represents more than a change in institutional name. It signifies the realization of a long-standing vision to elevate the province’s premier state college into a university capable of competing on both national and global stages while continuing to serve the educational needs of Mindoreños.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
