User:Dr. Melecerio/Southway College of Technology

Southway College of Technology was formerly named Southway Aviation Technical School. It was organized into law of the Republic of the Philippines through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Feb 22, 1993 at Greenhills, Mandaluyong Metro Manila. This private, non-profit, non-sectarian educational institution was founded and managed by the then Pilot CAPT. MELECERIO S. FLORES

Initially, the school offers aviation-related courses in 1995 to 1997, namely: The Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Aviation Electronics and Communication Technology, and Flying courses which initially marked an enrolment of 14 students. The flight training was conducted in Bancasi Airport, Butuan City with two-seaters Cessna manufactured single-engine airplane.

In 1996, the school was renamed into Southway College of Technology bearing the acronym “SOCOTECH”. In 1997, 13 students graduated in Aircraft Maintenance Technology and 1 in Commercial Pilot course. Right then, the management had voluntarily phased-out the aviation-related courses and applied other technical education courses, such as: Food and Beverage Services (Hotel and Restaurant Management), Health Care Services (Nursing Aide), Automotive Technology, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, Computer Hardware Servicing (Computer Technology), Security Services, and Computer Secretarial.

Starting year 2000, the SOCOTECH applied higher education programs to suit the needs of incoming tertiary students in Agusan del Sur and the nearby provinces, these are:

-          Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim)

-          Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

-          Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

-          Bachelor of Science in Public Administration (BSPA)

-          Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)

-          Graduate in Midwifery (GM)

-          Caregiver (6 months)

In view of enhancing the capability of the founder to manage the institution, he took graduate programs and successfully conferred the degrees of Master in Business Administration (MBA) on October 16, 2001 and the Doctor of Management (DM) major in Organizational Management on March 24, 2004 both at Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) (formerly Urios College) in Butuan City.

For better school administration, effective Academic Year 2005-2006, the management had to oversee the alignment of giving quality education by reviewing its vision, mission, goals, and objectives and take whatever appropriate action prior to produce high quality graduates that could cater in our country’s program for economic development.

In 2007, the administration adopted ladderization in its program; these are Security Services NC-II level 1 and level 2 leading to BS Criminology; PC Operation NC-II level 1 and Computer Hardware Servicing NC-II level 2 leading to BS in Information Technology; and 6-months caregiver, Health Care Services NC-II level 1, Midwifery level 2 leading to BS in Nursing. At the same year, the school has been approved to offer its new program for first semester of 2008-2009 Academic year: BS in Accounting Technology and BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

The school grew rapidly for the past 12 years from merely Aviation Technical School to Higher Educational institution. It is the only school in Agusan del Sur that offers state-of-the-art facilities, one of its kind in the municipality of San Francisco. Its motto “You don’t have far to go… to go far…” marked the challenge to everyone to pursue their education from the institution that spiritually sincere in their life’s goals and ambition.