University of Santo Tomas breaks ground in General Santos City

Finally, after years of speculation, the University of Santo Tomas (UST), the oldest institution of higher learning in Asia at 407 years is expanding in General Santos City in Mindanao and has just conducted its ground breaking ceremony and blessing rites.

The momentous event happened on April 20, 2018 at its 80-hectare campus site in Barangay Ligaya, General Santos City.  In attendance were UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V Dagohoy, O.P., together with the Bishop of Marbel H.E. Most Rev. Dinualdo D. Gutierrez, D.D., the Mayor of General Santos City Hon. Ronnel C. Rivera, UST Vice Rector for Finance Rev. Fr. Roland Castro, O.P., UST Secretary General Rev. Fr. Jesus M. Miranda, O.P., and UST General Santos Campus Project Director Rev. Fr. Dexter A. Austria, O.P.

A signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Museum Content Development Program between UST and the City Government of General Santos also took place.  Signing it were Rev. Fr. Dagohony and Mayor Rivera and witnesse by UST Museum Director Rev. Fr. Isidro C. Albaño, O.P., and General Santos Museum Technical Working Group Chair and Vice Mayor Hon. Shierlyn Bañas Nograles.

UST General Santos which is earmarked to open in 2020 aims to provide quality Catholic education in Southern Philippines and thus contributing to the development of Mindanao in general.

It will offer programs under the School of Health Sciences, School of Business and Accountancy, School of Arts and Humanities, School of Engineering and Technology, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science and School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.