Mariano Marcos
State University

COD marks 2nd foundation anniversary

By Ian Paul Villanueva

The Mariano Marcos State University - College of Dentistry (COD) celebrated its 2nd foundation anniversary on Monday, September 21, 2026.

Officially recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as an established dentistry school on September 19, 2024, COD is the youngest among MMSU’s 14 academic colleges.

The day's events began during the university flag ceremony, where dentistry students rendered special performances, and COD Dean Artemio Licos, Jr., who also celebrated his birthday, gave away oral hygiene kits to attendees. A motorcade around the MMSU Batac Campus and a formal program followed.

In his message, Dr. Licos reflected on the college’s challenging journey as an educational institution in its early years and narrated some of its tangible achievements.

Describing the college’s establishment as a “dream filled with hope,” he recalled some of the difficulties of the college early on in his stint as Dean, acknowledging the instrumental leadership of founding Dean Blesilda Ku Formantes.

Amid the challenges, Dean Licos also announced significant facility upgrades, confirming that six new dental chairs have been delivered and that more are in the pipeline, including the construction of simulation rooms that will be useful for students practicing clinical procedures.

Now serving 101 students across three year levels, the COD is fast taking shape as a well-established dental education institution with its ongoing infrastructure developments.