The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) has secured a ₱2 million allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to advance its Futures Thinking initiatives, with the funding support championed by Senator Pia S. Cayetano.
The allocation is set to bolster the implementation of the institution’s Strategic Roadmap Towards Sustainable Development, Innovation and Futures Thinking 2025–2029, spearheaded by the DEBESMSCAT Futures Thinking Office. The roadmap lays out the college’s long-term vision of embedding foresight, innovation, and sustainability-driven strategies into instruction, research, extension, and governance, positioning DEBESMSCAT as a future-ready higher education institution.
For 2026, the ₱2 million GAA funding will support the roadmap’s phase on Program Expansion and Early Impact, translating strategic foresight into concrete academic and institutional outcomes.
A major portion of the funding will be allocated to advanced capacity-building programs in futures thinking, strategic foresight, and scenario planning for senior faculty members and administrators. These initiatives aim to strengthen institutional leadership and enable the integration of futures thinking into curricula and departmental planning processes.
The funding will also expand the Futures of Masbate Research Grant, supporting additional research projects focused on emerging concerns such as environmental sustainability, technology, and regional development. This expansion is expected to generate a stronger portfolio of policy-relevant and development-oriented research aligned with the needs and future challenges of Masbate province.
In addition, DEBESMSCAT will intensify Innovation Hub activities through quarterly ideation sessions and mini-hackathons designed to engage students, faculty, and staff across disciplines. These activities are intended to cultivate a vibrant culture of innovation within the institution, encouraging collaborative problem-solving and forward-looking solutions.
Completing the 2026 program slate is the enhancement of advanced digital training for non-teaching personnel, equipping administrative staff with foresight tools and digital competencies essential for strategic and future-oriented governance.
College officials, led by SUC President III Dr. Arnel B. Millesca, said that the support from Senator Cayetano underscores the growing national recognition of futures thinking as a vital approach to higher education planning and regional development. With the 2026 GAA funding in place, DEBESMSCAT is set to operationalize its futures thinking agenda and take a significant step toward its goal of becoming a leading hub for innovation, sustainability, and foresight-driven development in the region.
Ladies and gentlemen,
