Quirino State University traces its humble beginning in the year 1963 as it metamorphosed from a municipal high school to a state college until it became a state university. In June 1963, it was known as Northeastern Nueva Vizcaya High School (NNVHS) founded by the municipal government under the leadership of the then Mayor, Dr. Luis M. Bergado having Mrs. Beulah T. Bunao as the head. On June 18, 1964, it was converted into Northern Nueva Vizcaya National Agricultural School (NNVNAS) by virtue of Republic Act 4023, offering Secondary Vocational Agriculture and Agricultural Homemaking Curricula with Engr. Santiago M. Sadang as the assigned school principal. The school was relocated to its present site, consisting of 48 hectares donated by the Gomez Family of Echague, Isabela through the initiative of Mayor Mariano J. Pimentel. When Quirino was weaned from its mother province in 1972, a municipal resolution changed its name into Quirino National Agricultural School (QNAS) offering two-year PostSecondary Agricultural Technician (PSAT) curriculum under the administration of Mr. Camilo G. Baldomero. In 1976, Mr. Carlos P. Eugenio became the Vocational School Administrator. Upon his demise, Mr. Julian A. Alvarez was appointed in his place.
On June 10, 1983, QNAS was converted into Quirino State College (QSC) by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 440. QSC started to operate as a state college in SY 1984-1985 with Mr. Julian A. Alvarez as the first president. Since then, four-year degree programs were offered. In 1998, after the demise of the first President, CHED Director Magdalena C. Jasmin from Region 01 was designated Officer In-Charge of the College while the search for a new president was undertaken. On September 1, 1998, Dr. Edgar M. Ricamonte former Vice President for Academic Affairs of Central Luzon State University, Muñoz, Nueva Ecijia was appointed the Second President. Under his able leadership and strong commitment to make QSC scale greater heights of growth and development, programs have been improved and enriched, projects have been expanded, human resource development has been given impetus and more facilities and equipment became accessible to QSC. After Dr. Ricamonte’s mandatory retirement, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) designated Dr. Reynaldo P. Villamayor as Officer In-Charge then designated Acting President who later became the full-fledged President of the institution. Upon retirement, a rigid selection for the new president was conducted.
On November 16, 2010, Dr. Samuel O. Benigno became Third President of the College. With visionary inclinations, he has in mind plans and ideas that led to the improvement of the services offered by the College along the three mandated functions–Instruction, Research and Development, and Extension and Training Services. It was during his incumbency that QSC pursued to become one of the satellites of the National Apiculture Research Training and Development Institute (NARTDI) as a Provincial Apiculture Center. Consequently, QSC educates and trains would-be beekeepers, apiculturists and other stakeholders, conducts researches and extends technologies towards the development of the apiculture industry in the province of Quirino. It continues to serve as technology advisor on various commodities where research and extension services are focused such as: banana, corn, rice, citrus, coffee, root crops, dairy and goat. Socio-cultural studies of indigenous people particularly the Bugkalots are being undertaken, while effects of climatic phenomenon and other mitigation practices were studied to counter its effect in order to sustain agricultural production and sufficiency.
On October 19, 2012, His Excellency President Benigno Simeon S. Aquino III signed the bill converting the Quirino State College (QSC) into Quirino State University under RA No. 10230. This is integrating the two campuses within the province; Quirino Polytechnic College (QPC) in Cabarroguis and Maddela Institute of Technology (MIT) in Maddela. This was made possible through the concerted efforts of key officials/leaders and the legislative body with Senator Edgardo J. Angara (Chairman, Committee on Education, Arts and Culture), Congressman Juan Edgardo M. Angara (Chairman, Committee on Higher and Technical Education), Congressman Dakila Carlo E. Cua and Governor Junie E. Cua. Thus, Quirino State University (QSU) as an educational institution paves the way for better opportunities to every Quirinian to be educated at par with the demands of the global village. This venture incessantly moves on with Dr. Samuel O. Benigno as the first President of the University.
The university also strongly ties up with other agencies, to include: Cagayan Valley Agriculture Resources Research and Development (CVARRD), Phil. Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Agriculture (DA) – Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), Regional Field Unit 2 (RFU 2), Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF), Bureau of Soils Water Management (BSWM) National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Advocacy partnerships with the NGOs such as the International River Foundation (IRF), Phil Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation and CAVA Habitat to name a few are likewise pursued. Linkages with other universities outside the country are sought such as Thai Nguyen University in Vietnam and Uppsala University in Sweden. With the support of the administration, researches also boomed. Many faculty/staff members were given opportunities to present their outputs in various conferences and fora up to the national and international levels.
Major developments on infrastructure and physical facilities were also accomplished–establishment of the ladies’ dormitory; construction of a greenhouse, research and development building, grow-out nursery, multipurpose pavements, composting sheds and other equipment for organic fertilizer production, windmills for high value vegetables irrigation, upgrading of Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP), construction of criminology laboratory and development of IT facilities; improvement of access roads; and many others. Resources have been expanded where this institution has tripled its library holdings through the sacrificial assistance of Professor Herbert W. Ockerman of Ohio State University for the donation of a 20-footer container van filled with books, CDs, journals and other library materials.
Remarkable accomplishments of the university have become more significant with Dr. Samuel O. Benigno, as 2015 made a turning point of development in all key areas of concern. Further improvements on infrastructure and physical facilities were undertaken. The completion phase of the IT building and the Foods and Baking Laboratory were additional landmarks at Diffun campus. Further physical developments in Maddela campus were carried-out such as the construction of the Science Laboratory, the Five-classroom Twin Buildings and the repair/rehabilitation of the gymnasium. These were notable projects of the year. Moreover, farm machineries and facilities were also acquired and improved.
Instruction is leveling high as academic programs are subjected to accreditation by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (AACCUP). The two programs of the College of Teacher Education: Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor in Elementary Education were Level II accredited while five more programs were Level I accredited: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management. The department also pushed for the realization of Outcome-Based Education.
For 2016, the University has undergone massive developments and transformations especially on the area of physical plant, site and facilities. Cabarroguis Campus was on the verge of its relocation process as the blueprint of its development master plan was finally documented and the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of its buildings was likewise carried-out.
The University President Dr. Samuel O. Benigno was re-appointed to serve a second term effective February 9, 2017. Moreover, the formulation of the QSU Development Plan for 2018-2022 was undertaken at Villa Saturnina, Sta. Ana Cagayan through the assistance of a pool of experts from the different sectors/agencies. As a notable accomplishment of the year, QSU bagged the Outstanding CUA Award during the 46th Panagdadapun Festival on September 8, 2017. The administration also initiated the following activities: Revision of Manuals of Operation and the formulation of manuals on – Citizens’ Charter, Quality Management System, Records Management and Freedom of Information (FOI).
Along instruction, programs were subjected to accreditation through the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities (AACCUP.) Two programs (BSE & BEED) on Level II status of the College of Teacher Education passed Level III (Phase 1) while two of the five programs (BSA & BSIT) on Level I passed Level II. For Quality Assurance Check, BS in Agriculture at Maddela Campus was certified compliant by the CHED Regional Quality Assurance Team (RQuAT).
As to physical improvement, eight constructions were completed: two buildings (Forestry Laboratory & Graduate Studies) at Diffun Campus, four buildings (Engineering, CHIM, Teacher Education & Health Sciences) at Cabarroguis Campus and two buildings (CHIM & Farm Mechanics) at Maddela Campus.
In connection to accreditation status, the programs at Diffun Campus were re-accredited with the same levels while BSE & BEED of the College of Teacher Education is on preparation for Phase 2 Level III. Moreover, Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) is on a candidate status. For PRC examinations, highly significant achievement was on LET Elementary (Cabarroguis Campus) of which two Regional topnotchers Ms. Jing-Jing D. Sibayan and Ms. Laarni F. Mendoza landed as first and tenth place respectively.
As to physical improvement, two buildings at Diffun Campus namely: Pre School Laboratory & Farm Mechanics were finished. Similarly, Road Network Concreting at Maddela Campus was also completed. Cabarroguis Campus is on its way of massive development with additional four buildings completed specifically the Business & Office Administration, Student Center, Campus Library and the Administration Building. In addition, Road Network of the campus including its peripheral fence and gate was also finished.
Academic Year 2019 is a final upshot for Dr. Benigno’s presidency which was marked by notable achievements in his pursuit for quality service. In his time, QSU pursued the ISO 9001:2015 Certification and was awarded on November 28, 2019 after it passed the assessment of third-party external audit by Russian Register Certification System. Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Quirino State University and Can Tho University (CTU) of Vietnam was established on November 7, 2019 with focused on research and instruction including faculty and student exchange.
As to accreditation status two programs BSE & BEED of the College of Teacher Education (Diffun Campus) is under compliance to some areas for Phase 2 Level III while five programs (BSA, BSIT, BS Crim, BSHM & BSND) were re-accredited on Level II status. Similarly, the BSOA program was accredited for Level I while two programs of Maddela campus BSA & BTLEd are on candidate status.
Achievements on PRC examinations were notably marked by the performance of LET Elementary (Cabarroguis Campus) and LE Criminologists (Diffun Campus) having two Regional topnotchers; Ms. Rhea M. Maclinic and Mr. Charles Mark G. Patol who landed at 9th and 10th ranks respectively.
In line with physical improvement, three buildings were completed at Diffun campus (Student Center, ICT Academic Building & Training Center with Amphitheater); two at Maddela Campus (Teacher Education or TLE & Library) while the campus at Cabarroguis (temporarily housed at San Marcos) has transferred to its new site at Zamora, Cabarroguis, Quirino. Two additional structures at the new site specifically the ICT Academic Building & RDET Building are ready for occupancy. Besides these, the centralized “Water Tank” was also completed.