The University of Santo Tomas, ahead of its 407th anniversary, held the groundbreaking ceremony for the 80-hectare General Santos City, Mindanao campus last April 20, 2018.
Led by Rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD and General Santos City Mayor Hon. Ronnel Rivera, the ceremony was attended by University and General Santos City officials, as well as UST Manila alumni based in General Santos City, and guests.
Presiding over the Blessing Rite was Most Rev. Dinualdo Gutierrez, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Marbel.
An integrated, globally competitive Mindanao
General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera expressed his constituents’ excitement to experience the “UST brand of education,” conveying the city’s joy at the culmination of the long journey toward the establishment of UST.
In his message, Fr. Dagohoy said that UST’s coming to Mindanao is the University’s contribution to the dream of an integrated and globally competitive Mindanao.
The Rector revealed that initially, UST will offer its Manila flagship programs in the health and pharmaceutical sciences, accountancy and business, tourism and hospitality management, arts and humanities, as well as research and graduate programs that will tap into the strength of the region: agriculture.
The campus is expected to open in 2021. Once opened, it will add to the growing number of UST schools: Manila, Quezon City, and Legazpi, as well as the upcoming Sta. Rosa campus.
