Mindanao University of Science & Technology (Polytechnic State College)

Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) has achieved its university status on 7 January 2009 after a long journey from its humble beginnings as a tradeschool in 1927. The seed of MUST gained roots through the Pre-Commonwealth Act No. 3377 known as the Vocational Act of 1927. It was named as the Misamis Oriental Trade School (MOTS) which catered to the elementary level only but eventually in 1936, it opened a secondary four-year program. In accordance to Republic Act No. 672 of 1952, MOTS became Mindanao School of Arts and Trades (MSAT) offering trade technical curriculum. Later in 1970, the school was authorized by virtue of RA 3959 to offer Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education and the Evening Opportunity Programs. In 1978, Presidential Decree 1431 upgraded the institution to Don Mariano Marcos Memorial Polytechnic State College. In 1991, it was renamed Mindanao Polytechnic State College (MPSC) and it also gained a new function – provide extension services. The proposal to convert MPSC to MUST was presented in 1998, to the constituents of the institution and the general public. But the bill failed to prosper due to the moratorium on the creation of SUCs in the country (1998), Senate adjournment (2003); and the bill named HB 4914 was filed during the 13th Congress but was not finalized.