History of Dingalan Community College

Dingalan has a total population of 27,878, based on the 2020 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Survey. There are an estimated 8,178 households in the municipality, with an average household count of four. The community’s main source of livelihood is agriculture, which is dependent on its 35-km coastline and 300 hectares of land.

The nearest tertiary education institution is the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology – Gabaldon Campus, which is 11.2 km away. It’s about a 15-to-20-minute drive via motorcycle or a 25-to-30-minute drive via a public utility bus. Needless to say, students have to pay for their transportation expenses and food if they choose not to rent a place in Gabaldon.

The first meeting with NEUST Research and Extension personnel was held during the first week of June 2022 at the Mayor’s Office in Dingalan, Aurora. The purpose of the meeting was to obtain their evaluation regarding a previously conducted activity of their research and extension program. During the meeting, the Mayor mentioned that the LGU was working on establishing an extension of Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in the community. However, NEUST advised the mayor that it would be faster if the LGU chose to establish a community college instead. They further added that they had already assisted a few LGUs with this endeavor. They even cited that some of their staff held important posts in the now-defunct NEUST Gapan City Campus, which is now Gapan City College. This suggestion was taken into consideration, and the LGU decided to proceed with the establishment of Dingalan Community College.

In July 2022, the first benchmarking activity was conducted at the NEUST Cabanatuan Campus. The purpose was to obtain information on how NEUST could help the LGU operate a community college. This activity aimed to help the LGU identify the best practices and strategies that could be implemented in the establishment of Dingalan Community College. During the benchmarking activity, we were able to observe how NEUST manages its faculty, students, curriculum, and facilities.

Benchmarking and Planning

In August 2022, the second benchmarking activity took place at Gordon College in Olongapo City. The main objective was to gather information on the operations of Gordon College to identify best practices and strategies that could be adapted. Our team observed how Gordon College manages its faculty, students, curriculum, and facilities. We noted things like their library, which was equipped with necessary materials, their laboratories, the standard size of their classrooms, and their organizational chart. The representatives from Gordon College were hospitable and informed us they were willing to provide all the necessary documents to aid in the establishment of Dingalan Community College. The City Mayor, Rolen C. Paulino, Jr., extended his full support to our endeavor and even assured us that he was looking forward to the opening of our college.

In January 2023, the LGU Technical Working Group (TWG) presented the initial documents they had prepared for the establishment of Dingalan Community College to the NEUST personnel. The meeting was held at the Mayor’s Office in Dingalan, Aurora. The TWG presented the proposed organizational structure, academic programs, and facilities they plan to implement. The NEUST personnel provided feedback and suggestions on how to improve the plans based on their experience. The LGU TWG took note of these recommendations and will incorporate them into their final plans.

Final Benchmarking and Outlook

n February 2023, the third benchmarking activity was carried out at Gapan City College to gain insights into its operations. The primary objective was to discover the best practices and approaches that could be employed in establishing Dingalan Community College. Our observations allowed us to witness how Gapan City College manages its faculty, students, curriculum, and facilities. Mayor Emary Joy Pascual was actively involved and, along with her budget officer, city planner, legal officer, and college president, provided a detailed explanation of the strategies that could be employed to expedite the establishment of Dingalan Community College.

Overall, the benchmarking activities aimed to gather information and learn from the best practices of existing community colleges. The data and insights obtained from these activities, along with the feedback and suggestions from the NEUST personnel, will be used in the establishment of Dingalan Community College. By learning from the best practices of other community colleges, we hope to create an institution that will meet the needs of the Dingalan community and provide quality education to its students.