SorSU gets 90.7 % passing rate in licensure exam

By Benilda Recebido

SORSOGON CITY, Sorsogon --- Thirty-nine graduates from Sorsogon State University (SorSU) Castilla campus have brought honor and prestige to their institution by passing the November 2025 Agriculture Licensure Examination (ALE), achieving an impressive overall passing rate of 90.70 percent.

This accomplishment places SorSU Castilla as the fifth top-performing school for institutions with 40 to 99 candidates taking the 2025 ALE. To qualify as a top-performing school, an institution must either have at least 100 examinees or between 40 and 99 examinees with a passing rate of at least 80 percent.

According to a post by the Professional Regulation Commission, 6,678 out of over 9,742 examinees passed the licensure examination. SorSU Castilla’s passing rate of 90.70 percent significantly exceeds the national average of 68.55 percent, demonstrating the university’s ongoing commitment to enhancing agricultural education and training in the province.

For the 39 newly licensed agriculturists, passing the examination signifies years of perseverance, familial support, and strong community ties that motivated them to pursue a course in agriculture.

Sophia Ansus, one of the passers, shared how her background influenced her career choice. She grew up in a family that relied on gathering handicraft raw materials and small-scale farming.

“My parents were truly my inspiration,” she said. “My mother raised us by gathering raw materials for handicrafts, and my father worked as a coconut and rice farmer.”

“I initially planned to study psychology, but circumstances changed, and I chose agriculture instead. Once I experienced the program, I realized how holistic the learning process is—from the field to the classroom—and the value it holds,” Ansus added.

Another passer, Marc Clarence Dacullo, noted that the realities he observed during the pandemic shaped his decision.

“I realized how important farming is,” he stated. “I wanted to study a course that would deepen my understanding of what I observed.”

“Agriculture secures our food supply, but many farmers are aging. We need new professionals to support this sector,” Dacullo said.

The passers frequently mentioned the crucial role of faculty and staff members. Professor Marinel Locaba, one of the review coordinators, said that the SorSU Castilla campus encourages students to nurture a “review culture.”

“Reviewing doesn’t start after graduation. We teach students from their first year that every day contributes to their review,” Locaba explained.

SorSU Castilla officials noted that the campus’s national ranking reflects Sorsogon’s growing potential as an agricultural province and its commitment to producing graduates who can help strengthen food security and rural development.

Even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has repeatedly urged Filipinos, especially the youth, to pursue agriculture-related courses and training to modernize the sector and ensure the country’s food security. (Bertuldo Jr. Bueza contributed to this report/PIA Bicol/Sorsogon)