About

The Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) is a state college located at Cabitan, Mandaon, Masbate, Philippines. It operates, in cooperation with LGU-Cawayan, Masbate, a Learning Site at Cawayan offering short-term vocational courses. The DEBESMSCAT Graduate School has Off-Campus Learning Sites at (1) Cataingan, Masbate, (2) San Jacinto, Masbate, (3) Cawayan, Masbate and (4) Masbate City.

It was first called the Masbate National Agricultural School and was established on November 15, 1952 by virtue of R.A. No. 605, authored by Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr., then the lone congressman of the province of Masbate. MNAS was renamed Masbate Agricultural College on June 18, 1966 by virtue of R.A. No. 4717, authored by then congressman and con-con delegate, Hon. Andres R. Clemente, Jr.

MAC was renamed the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial Agricultural College on July 30, 1977 upon approval by Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos of Resolution No. 136, series of 1976 enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Masbate on December 8, 1976. Republic Act No. 7945 approved March 3, 1995 authored by Masbate’s Second Congressional District Representative the Honorable Luz Cleta Reyes - Bakunawa and approved by President Fidel V. Ramos, converted the DEBESMAC into the Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology with Dr. Percival V. Bartolata as its first president.

Pres. Bartolata was succeeded by Dr. Alfredo B. Atendido, Sr., the acting president. On April 1, 2003, Dr. Magno S. Conag, Jr. assumed his office as the second DEBESMSCAT president. Under the leadership of Dr. Magno S. Conag, Jr., the DEBESMSCAT continued to experience growth particularly in the development of different curricular programs through accreditation.

On April 1, 2011, the entire DEBESMSCAT academic community and various stakeholders welcomed the third president of DEBESMSCAT, Dr. Erwin H. Malto. He vowed to improve access and quality of education offered by DEBESMSCAT.