USTP Claveria charts new four-year roadmap as Chancellor Arazo highlights achievements in 4th SOCA
By Carlos Ian H. Mendoza & Dr. Nueva D. Salaan, STRATCOMM Coordinator, USTP Claveria
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The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Claveria, Misamis Oriental (USTP Claveria) is preparing for a new era of growth following Chancellor Dr. Renato O. Arazo’s Fourth State of the Campus Address (SOCA). The address, delivered on December 9, 2025, celebrated a “Voyage of Achievements” and unveiled an ambitious roadmap for the next four years. Within the theme “Handuraw sa Paglawig” (A Remembering of the Voyage), Dr. Arazo reflected on his successful first term while marking the beginning of his second, using powerful nautical metaphors to inspire the university community.
A Voyage of Achievements: Transforming Obstacles into Milestones
Dr. Arazo opened his address with a clear declaration of the university’s mission, emphasizing motion and purpose.
“As the saying goes, a ship is not made to stay in port. It is built to navigate the open sea,” Chancellor Arazo stated. He explained that just as a ship is meant to explore beyond the harbor, the university must continue pushing forward—innovating, learning, and taking on new challenges.
He lauded the faculty and staff as the dedicated personnel who guided the institution through challenging times. “You are the daring and committed captains and crew who navigated both calm and stormy waters with courage and purpose,” he noted, celebrating their “unwavering dedication, resilience, and shared vision [that] transformed obstacles into milestones.”
Instructional Excellence and Student Triumphs
A key focus of the first term was the rigorous strengthening of academic standards. Dr. Arazo proudly announced that 100% of the campus’s accreditable undergraduate programs now hold AACCUP accreditation, with a significant leap to five programs reaching Level 3 status and one achieving the international standard of Level 4.
Student success in licensure examinations saw a dramatic surge. The passing rate for first-time takers in the Agricultural Licensure Examination soared to 72.62% in 2024, far above the national average.
“The L-EAP program is a testament to our continual improvement to ensure the standard and delivery of quality education,” Dr. Arazo explained, crediting the institutionalized Licensure Examination Advancement Program for the significant increase. The campus also celebrated a 100% passing rate for its first batch of Social Work graduates this year.
Research and Fortifying the Crew
The university’s commitment to creating and applying knowledge was evident in its research output, which saw utilized outputs increase by 150% and Scopus-indexed publications more than double with a 120.69% rise.
“Research is a field that catches the wind of innovation, and we expand our sail with purpose, rigor, and ambition,” the Chancellor remarked, highlighting the institution’s commitment to translating knowledge into community impact.
Institutional building was another historic gain. Dr. Arazo proudly shared the tripling of the faculty workforce from 47 to 142 through the securing of 104 new faculty plantilla items.
“This plantilla item changed the trajectory of our faculty workforce forever,” he stated, underscoring that the massive faculty expansion ensures long-term academic stability and higher standards. “A strong institution begins with strong people.”
In terms of financial stewardship, the campus generated an unprecedented P562.7 million in external resources.
“Generating P562.7 million in external resources is not merely a financial achievement—it is an investment in the future of every student and community we serve,” the Chancellor clarified, emphasizing the impact of these funds on scholarships, research, and campus development.
Charting the New Horizon: The ‘CHAMPION’ Agenda
As Dr. Arazo enters his second mandate, he unveiled the “CHAMPION Agenda,” a strategic framework designed to build on past achievements and drive the campus into its next phase of development, focusing heavily on innovation and industry collaboration.
“The next horizon calls us to build on the gains of the first voyage, strengthen what works, and reimagine what must evolve,” Dr. Arazo proclaimed, signaling an era of refinement and reinvention.
The CHAMPION Agenda stands for: Catalyze the creation of Innovation, Hasten and implement more responsive extension services, Advance the agri-industry collaboration, Modernize university facilities, equipment and services; Produce quality and ready workforce, Increase the graduates’ employability and earning power, Operate a state-of-the-art agri-enterprises, and Nurture the knowledge-based economy.
“With the CHAMPION Agenda, we are not just planning for the future—we are shaping it with intention, vision, and courage,” he concluded. “Our story is not just about surviving challenges; it is about conquering them and transforming them into opportunities for growth.”
The address concluded with a unifying message of resilience and readiness, positioning USTP Claveria to solidify its role as a leading Science and Technology institution in the Region. “A strengthened vessel and a disciplined crew – this is the foundation of our continued voyage;”Dr. Arazo said.
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