History of MSU Buug

The MSU Buug Campus, a premier higher educational institution in Western Mindanao, is a product of the endeavors of past and present leadership. It was established in 1971 as MSU Buug Community High School (a self-supporting unit) realized with the effort of the late Prof. Mariano G. Pagang. Its establishment was responsive to the incessant request of the local residents (through the local government unit) to uplift the educational status of the poor and underserved, especially the indigenous people of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay formerly Zamboanga del Sur. The MSU Buug Community High School was subsidized by the MSU Main Campus from 1974-1975, then was absorbed as a full-fledged unit by the latter in 1976 by virtue of BOR Resolution No. 1030, s.1976. Despite the meager budget given, the school continued to operate and thrive with commendable commitment of the faculty members and staff.

In 1982, the school was elevated into a collegiate level and renamed as the MSU Buug College. By virtue of BOR Resolution Nos. 492 and 492-B, it was authorized to offer general college courses. In the same year, the MSU Buug College initially established the College of Agriculture and Fisheries in the municipality of Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay as an extension program. LGU Alicia had passed Res. No. 54, s.1982 to allot Lots 578 and 579 for an institutional site with an area of 28, 252 and 5, 738 sq.m, respectively. Unfortunately, the number of enrollees did not suffice for the retention of the program which led to the transfer of the program to MSU Buug.

In 1986, the MSU Buug College was headed by the late Prof. Mohammad-Ali T. Mariga. Under his leadership, the MSU Buug College (through BOR Resolution No. 55, s.1989) was subsequently authorized to offer complete courses in Agriculture, Forestry, Education, and Liberal Arts.

Despite its elevation into a collegiate unit, the MSU Buug operated under its budget as a high school entity -- with rules and policies which were appropriate for high school units only. The MSU Buug College was under the direct supervision of the Office of the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (External Studies). Consequently, it experienced stunted growth because of lack of funds and less supervision from the mother campus being far from Buug. This resulted in complacency among the school constituents, particularly, the faculty members and staff who felt neglected.

In 2002, by virtue of Special Order No. 581-OP, the MSU Buug was revitalized with the transfer of supervision to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The MSU Buug then became one of the colleges of the MSU Marawi headed by headed by Director Sultan Taha Sarip.

Appointed by Dr. Ricardo de Leon (acting President of the MSU System in 2006), Director Sarip brought about several improvements to the campus that includes the grant to the MSU Buug as one of the 8 collegiate campuses of the MSU System.

On December 5, 2007, BOR Res. No. 223, s.2007 was adopted by the Board of Regents granting Level II autonomous status to the MSU Buug in Zamboanga Sibugay. Then, on November 14, 2008, the MSU Board of Regents adopted BOR Res. 211 and 212 re: the grant of sub-allocation to MSU Buug and the Transfer of Supervision over MSU Buug to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, respectively. In the same year, through the efforts of the late Prof. Magdalena B. Masong and the late SB Member Wilfredo Ben Babaran, the College of Fisheries-Alicia Extension was re-established through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) executed by and between LGU Alicia and MSU System through its educational arm in the Zamboanga Peninsula, the MSU Buug.

On September 30, 2010, BOR Resolution No. 168 was adopted by the MSU Board of Regents granting autonomous status (yet with no financial autonomy) to the MSU Buug. Despite being financially dependent to the main campus, the MSU Buug has relentlessly committed to becoming the leading higher educational institution committed to the intellectual, socio-economic, political, and moral development of the people of Zamboanga Sibugay. The MSU Buug continuing to operate as the 8th autonomous campus of the MSU System has offered collegiate programs including an extension program (Fisheries) in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay. However, in 2011, with the change of administration of LGU Alicia, the subsidy was discontinued which caused the transfer of the College of Fisheries instruction back to MSU Buug since it could sustain the maintenance and other operating expenses. However, MSU Buug-Alicia Extension presently, continues to exist as a laboratory and production area of the fisheries program.

On September 27, 2012, the first election for regular chancellor of the MSU Buug was slated. Sultan Taha G. Sarip was elected by the MSU Board of Regents as the first MSU Buug regular chancellor.

The MSU Buug has continued to prosper and attained greater heights of development when Dr. Pangandag M. Magolama on December 18, 2018, was elected by the Board of Regents as the second chancellor. With his unceasing zeal to bring about development to the Campus, new programs were added -- Master of Science in Farming System and Master of Arts in Nursing. Moreover, his present leadership, paves the way to establishing new colleges such as the College of Information Technology (CIT), College of Hospitality Management (CHM), and College of Public Affairs (CPA).

On July 29, 2019, BOR Resolution No. 283 s.2019 granted the College of Agriculture of the MSU Marawi to have an extension program at Roseller T. Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay. With this, it paved the way to the MSU Buug to experience a new milestone because in March 2020, the administration of the R.T. Lim extension program was transferred to MSU Buug. As such, R.T. Lim Extension is now under the MSU Buug.

Incessant with its endeavors, the MSU Buug with the avid and sincere support of the new MSU System President, Atty Basari D. Mapupuno, the 8th autonomous campus has always been an educational hub that looks after the benefit of the poor and deserving students in Zamboanga Peninsula.

The inspiration of the new President to keep the MSU Buug soar high makes this fact certain: The MSU Buug is a true partner of the people and the concerned local government units in attaining peace and prosperity among the Tri-people of Mindanao -- the Muslims, the Lumads, and the Christians. Peace is not far-fetched as the university becomes a melting pot as it never stops in welcoming influx among students of diverse cultures (representative of the Tri-people) and in extending peace initiatives to communities. Prosperity is not a chasing after the stars as the university inculcates dual excellence among its graduates and professionals -- the human assets of academic and character excellence, who will possibly usher the economic lift of their respective tribal community.