ASCOT HISTORY

Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) has long stood at the forefront of educational and technological advancement in the province of Aurora. Established through Republic Act No. 7664 on December 30, 1993, ASCOT was made possible by the efforts of then Senate President Edgardo J. Angara and the late Representative Benedicto G. Miran.

A pre-organization Task Force was quickly formed under the leadership of Senator Angara—regarded as the Father and Founder of ASCOT—to oversee the institution’s initial management and operations. With support from the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) then, Division of Aurora, under Superintendent Domingo Hulipas, preparations for student admission and temporary classroom assignments began. Classes officially opened for the academic year 1993–1994 at Baler Central School.

Dr. Benny A. Palma, from the Aklan State College of Agriculture (now Aklan State University), was appointed as ASCOT’s first President. The College initially served 301 freshmen students, facilitated by 13 faculty members and 9 administrative staff. Ten classrooms and one administration room at Baler Central School served as ASCOT’s temporary learning spaces. Dr. Palma was reappointed for a second term, serving until August 2004.

Republic Act No. 7664 granted ASCOT a 196.06-hectare campus site in Debudulan Mountain, Sitio Dicaloyungan, Brgy. Zabali, Baler, Aurora—formally declared by President Fidel V. Ramos under Proclamation No. 559 on April 7, 1996. The law also mandated ASCOT to integrate the Aurora National Agricultural School in Maria Aurora and the Aurora National Fishery School in Casiguran.

Additional campuses were acquired: 110.8 hectares in Brgy. Bazal, Maria Aurora, and 105 hectares in Brgy. Bianoan, Casiguran, through a Memorandum of Agreement with DECS (now known as DepEd), represented by Regional Director Pedro V. Trinidad. ASCOT also absorbed the DAT-BAT program, including 259 students, 10 faculty, 2 support staff, learning materials, and infrastructure.

ASCOT held its first commencement exercises on June 8, 1996 at the Baler Municipal Plaza with Representative Bellaflor Angara-Castillo as the speaker. The first batch of 178 graduates included 30 from four-year degree programs in Agriculture and 148 from ladderized technology courses.

In late 1996, the General Education and other departments transitioned to the newly completed Phase 1 of Dr. Juan C. Angara Hall in Sitio Dicaloyungan, Brgy. Zabali.

Following Dr. Palma’s term, Dr. Rodolfo C. Undan of CLSU briefly served as OIC-President. On March 4, 2002, Dr. Romeo C. Cabanilla was appointed as the second College President. His administration forged a strong partnership with the Central Luzon Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research Development Consortium (CLAARRDEC) and developed the ASCOT Income Generating Project Manual to enhance entrepreneurial initiatives.

On January 2, 2007, Dr. Eusebio V. Angara became ASCOT’s third President and the first to hail from Aurora. Reappointed in 2011, he focused on international linkages, including securing FUNESCO funding for coastal resource management. After his presidency, he returned to teaching under the Department of Forestry.

Dr. Evi Q. Fontanos, Vice President for Academic Affairs, later served as OIC-President. Then, on May 15, 2015, Dr. Doracie Zoleta-Nantes from Lucban, Quezon, was appointed as ASCOT’s fourth and first female President. She successfully implemented the UNIFAST Law and supported the K-12 program by introducing Senior High School at ASCOT.

In 2019, ASCOT achieved Level II Accreditation and received a Bronze Award under the Civil Service Commission’s PRIME-HRM Program. Dr. Amelia A. Picart, then Vice President for Academic Affairs, served as OIC-President after Dr. Nantes’ term.

On August 30, 2019, Dr. Eutiquio L. Rotaquio Jr.—an ASCOT alumnus and faculty member from the Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences—was appointed as the fifth College President. He was recognized by PASUC as the youngest College President in the Philippines. In his term, a first college of law in Aurora was established.

Following his term, CHED Regional Director Dr. Lora Yusi was designated as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) President of ASCOT. Her stewardship ensured continuity in operations and governance, while also upholding the College’s standards of quality and public service during the presidential transition.

On August 30, 2023, Dr. Renato G. Reyes was appointed as the sixth College President of ASCOT. A distinguished leader with vast experience in higher education management, Dr. Reyes brings with him transformative Under his leadership, ASCOT continues to expand its academic and research capabilities while fostering a culture of inclusive growth, service, and unity.

Today, more than three decades since its founding, ASCOT stands as a dynamic institution of higher learning with three campuses:

Zabali Campus in Brgy. Zabali, Baler Bazal Campus in Brgy. Bazal, Maria Aurora Esteves and FTC Campuses in Brgy. Esteves and Dibet, Casiguran With a student population exceeding 7,000 and a workforce of over 400, ASCOT remains steadfast in fulfilling its mandate of delivering quality technical and professional education in the fields of arts and sciences, education, agriculture, engineering, technology, and vocational training. Its legacy continues to shape the future of Aurora and beyond.