From Conflict to Campus: Matuguinao to Open First College Extension This August

• Matuguinao, Samar is opening its first college extension this August to boost its economy and secure peace, marking its shift from a conflict-affected area to a growth center.

Gina Dean 4 hours ago 1.1 K

Posted on June 23, 2026 at 8:26 am

In a major push to elevate its economic status and secure lasting regional peace, the local government unit (LGU) of Matuguinao, Samar is finalizing preparations to open its first college extension this coming August.

The development was a central highlight of Mayor Aran Boller’s State of the Municipal Address (SOMA) delivered on June 19, where he outlined the town’s continuing transition from a remote, conflict-affected area into a burgeoning center for socio-economic growth.

Operating as a combined college extension under a joint partnership with Northwest Samar State University (NWSSU) and Samar State University (SSU), this educational expansion is being actively driven by the Samar Provincial Government under Governor Sharee Ann Tan’s flagship “Smart Project,” a framework designed to accelerate local development and decentralize high-quality academic opportunities to far-flung sectors of the province.

To satisfy rigid university compliance standards and ensure a smooth rollout, the Matuguinao LGU has institutionalized significant spatial and logistical commitments by formally allocating 50 hectares of designated forest land, 10 hectares of dedicated agricultural land, and temporary classroom units built to guarantee that enrollment and instructions successfully commence by the August deadline.

While specific degree titles remain unfinalized, these substantial land provisions heavily imply a specialized curriculum focused on agriculture and forestry programs, such as agricultural sciences and environmental management.

These higher education offerings are designed to align closely with the municipality’s existing Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) secondary tracks overseen by the Municipal Agriculture Office, creating direct pathways toward professional licensing.

Historically categorized as a low-income “forest municipality,” Matuguinao intends to leverage human capital to break its geographic constraints, with local leadership noting that the university extension’s primary target is to foster homegrown professionals and licensed earners, empowering the local youth without forcing them to relocate.

Looking ahead, the administration plans to utilize the upcoming 2027 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) data to meticulously track income adjustments, viewing the localized university system as a long-term economic catalyst capable of shifting Matuguinao into a higher income classification as Mayor Boller prepares to present the complete structural and land documentation to Governor Tan within the week for official provincial sign-off.