Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology is being considered by envoys from Spain, where a new academic program could be offered, unique in Mindanao.

Together with Zamboanga City Tourism Officer Sarita Hernandez, a foreign businessman arrived at ZSCMST early Wednesday afternoon, October 21, 2026, to discuss the possibility of assisting the College in opening a Bachelor’s Degree course in Naval Architecture, a long-time dream of ZSCMST President Dr. Roy Valesco.

Oscar Gomez, Managing Director of Association Cluster del Naval Gallego (ACLUNAGA), an association of shipbuilders based in the Galicia Region in Northwest Spain, accompanied by his trade promotions manager, Sabela Cosuelo, briefly discussed their interest in providing academic support and assistance to ZSCMST. Dr. Valesco likewise emphasized the need to have such undergraduate programs, which would be a first in Mindanao and would also contribute to workforce competence in naval architecture.

The foreign visitors were accompanied to Zamboanga City by Althea Karen Antonio, Head of the DTI Philippine Trade and Investment Center based in Madrid, Spain, and Raine Ann Mojica, Europe and Middle East Trade Coordinator under the DTI Foreign Service Corps.