BUTUAN CITY — For years, students from Butuan and nearby provinces had to leave their families and communities to access quality college education. That journey is about to get much shorter. PHINMA Education has officially established its presence in Butuan City through PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College (COC), opening a new campus that will bring accessible, student-centered education directly to the heart of Caraga.
CHED-Approved Programs for Regional Demand
The Commission on Higher Education has officially approved the opening of the PHINMA COC Butuan campus, which will offer programs in Accountancy, Management Accounting, Psychology, Early Childhood Education, Criminology, Civil Engineering, and Tourism Management. These programs are aligned with growing regional demand for professionals in key sectors driving growth across Caraga.
Expanding Access to Quality Education
PHINMA COC currently serves more than 38,000 underserved students across Carmen, Puerto, Iligan, and nearby communities. With the opening of the Butuan campus, the institution expects to reach up to 50,000 learners across its network, including the new Butuan location. The campus is open to students from diverse backgrounds, including working students and those returning to complete their studies.
Scholarships That Remove Barriers
The new campus will offer PHINMA Education's "Hawak Kamay" scholarship program, which does not require an entrance examination and does not impose maintaining grades. The scholarship remains valid until students complete their degree, helping remove barriers to entry while ensuring continuing accessibility to various forms of support throughout their college journey.
A Proven Educational Model, Closer to Home
"For years, many students from Butuan and nearby provinces have chosen to study at PHINMA COC in Cagayan de Oro because of the quality of education, strong board exam performance, and career opportunities our graduates achieve," said PHINMA COC Network COO Mark Macaventa. "With PHINMA COC Butuan, we are making that same proven educational experience more accessible to students in Caraga, closer to their homes, families, and communities". The new campus is located across J.C. Aquino Avenue from Robinsons Place Butuan, directly accessible to students throughout Caraga. With this development, PHINMA Education expands access to college education in the region, reinforcing its role in helping families use higher education as a pathway out of poverty.
