Humble beginnings

Eastern Mindanao College of Technology (EMCOTECH), formerly the Pagadian Technological Center (PTC), is a non-profit, non-stock corporation duly registered with Securities and Exchange Commission under SEC Registration Number 199800114 series of 1998.

Its application for registration was submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Zamboanga branch officials led by Avelino J. Lozada and Apolinario Quilat as witnesses of the good intention of the applicant to establish an educational institution with the approval of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the offering of technical and vocational courses.

The members of the Board of Directors at the time of the registration were only five. Upon the death of the President, Crispin Talaoc Sr., on July 12, 1999, the four remaining members of the Board of Directors decided to recruit additional members; as a result, more members joined in. The new members were required to come-up with a share capital for the operation of the school.

PTC started its operation in April 1998 by renting a building at Benigno Aquino St., Gatas, Pagadian City offering only General Automotive Mechanics, Electronics, and Electrical (Modular courses) as its initial courses.

After deciding to appoint a temporary President, the Board adopted a Resolution No. 05 series 1999, naming Urcisio Arambala as temporary PTC President. The members of the Board at that time waived their rights to the position of President in favor of Arambala.

After only a year student population grew bigger than those that could be accommodated in its the rented place. So the Board decided to look for a bigger building. In December 1999, PTC was transferred to its new location along R.T. Lim St. (now Cong. CMS Enerio St.), Balangasan, Pagadian City.

By this time there were already 15 Board members of the corporation and the total capital shares were already sufficient to finance its operations. An election of the new set of officers was held on December 5, 1999 where Avelino J. Lozada was elected President. From then on, the Board holds an election of school officials once every two years. In 2000, Godofredo V. Aure was elected as Vice President and, at the same time, was designated as School Administrator. It was during this time that two-year technical courses were opened.

In 2001, Avelino J. Lozada remained as the school President as a result of the election done in December 2000 during the general assembly. As President, he plans and oversees the operation of the school and was assisted by the Vice President, Engr. Arnel Cantero. Godofredo V. Aure remained as School Administrator. Up to this time Lozada remains the School President.

In August 5, 2001, with the plan of the Board to offer four-year degree courses, thes chool was changed from a mere Technological Center to a college institution as per instruction from the Securities and Exchange Commission. It was at this time that PTC was changed to Eastern Mindanao College of Technology (EMCOTECH).

EMCOTECH celebrates its foundation anniversary every 21st of February.

Present times

Since the start of its operation, EMCOTECH enrolment figure grew bigger and bigger every year. EMCOTECH in fact, is envied by others due to its progress. And to give students the quality of education that they deserve, EMCOTECH provides them competent and dedicated instructors to help them become experts in their field. To prove that, EMCOTECH was proclaimed over-all champion of the Skills Competition spearheaded by TESDA in cooperation by TVET Zamboanga del Sur last March 2007. EMCOTECH also produced in 2004 a National Competitor in the Building Wiring Category in the person of Jay Dominguez from the Electrical Department.

Due to its growing number of students EMCOTECH foresees a bigger student population and more courses offerings in the near future. It also plans to own a new school building. In March 2007, the college purchased a lot for a 5-storey beautiful school building. But due to insufficiency of funds, it was decided to build a 2-storey first then eventually the 5-storeybuilding as originally planned. It will soon rise in the newly purchased lot in La Solidaridad, San Jose, Pagadian City.

EMCOTECH started with only four incorporators Now, it has 48 big-hearted incorporators aiming to provide the best education to students and prospective clients.

EMCOTECH has produced a national competitor and won the 5th prize out of 13 contenders from all over the country in Building Wiring Category in the 2004 National Skills Competition held in Manila. EMCOTECH also takes pride was to the undefeated champion in Hotel & Restaurant Services category in the provincial level and won the 2nd prize in the regional level in 2005.

The ICT Department has the biggest number of enrollees. It is the few schools in the region providing ICT students one on one training with computers. That way, fast learning is attained. Although EMCOTECH is basically a Technological School, its Instructors are MA graduates and/or having MA units making them highly competent in their fields. This accounts for increased enrollment, aside from the fact that it has the lowest tuition fee rate in town.

The Automotive Department gets the next highest number of enrollees. Aside from the 2–3-Year regular course, EMCOTECH also offers General Automotive Mechanics covering 240 hours. These courses have brought good income to the school.

The college hopes to get more enrollees for its Hotel & Restaurant Management and Electronics Technology courses.

It’s been eight years since EMCOTECH, started its operation and its administrators continue to work to keep pace with the rest of the players around. As it holds Annual Intramurals, it also hold the Search for MS. EMCOTECH. The collge is the first school to make it highly technologized – computerized judging tablets, candidates’ faces and presentations are played live via multimedia systems.

As it continues to scale the height of progress, the college has been accepting scholars – five of them are AFP/PNP grantees and 12 are Student Assistants with all free tuition fees.

EMCOTECH is not only working for its progress. It assures its prospective community the realization of its mission and vision.

Flagship courses

At present, EMCOTECH offers the following courses: the two to three-year courses include Automotive Technology; Information Technology with specialized training in Computer Encoding, Technician, and Programming; Electronics Engineering Technology; HRM with specialization on Baker, Front Office Agent, Room Attendant and Food and Beverage Attendant, Housekeeping, Household Services, Bartending, and Tour Guiding; and Electrical Technology.

The school also offers four-year courses, namely, the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.

EMCOTECH also offers the following short term courses: General Automotive Mechanics, General Electronics, Computer Encoding, Computer Technician, Computer Programming and Household Services. The Caregiver Course is soon to be offered by the school.