March 19, 1997 marked the beginning where a public college was mentioned by Sangguniang Panlunsod Education Committee Chair then, Hon. Pablo O. Ticzon, during committee report in a regular session. He said that one of the cherished dreams of Hon. Mayor Vicente B. Amante was the establishment of a school for deserving but indigent children. He mentioned further that Mayor Amante was planning to open a public college immediately the following school year. There were about 400 underprivileged deserving students that were coming from public schools, hence, negotiation for a probable site of the school was being undertaken by the Mayor Vicente Amante himself. A lot was to be purchased as a permanent site intended for both the high school annex and the proposed college. When he learned that there were around 25-30 teachers who might be displaced because of some labor disputes with their employer then, he wanted immediately to address the problem. For him it was actually hitting two birds with one stone – opening a city college and hiring the teachers so, they will not be displaced.

Twenty-seven days after, on April 16, 1997, Ordinance No. 97-15 was enacted unanimously, an ordinance approving in principle the establishment of a college in the City of San Pablo.

A week later, on April 23, 1997 in the plenary, the proposed names of the college underwent lengthy deliberations, that eventually gave Asst. Majority Floor Leader, Hon. Eduardo O. Dizon, the opportunity to suggest, that the name of the city college be in the vernacular or Tagalog [Filipino] – “Dalubhasaan ng Lunsod ng San Pablo”, since the college was intended for the ordinary citizens, the laymen or the less privileged constituents of the city. Hon. Irineo Biglete, amenable to the suggestion made, reiterated that the name be made as such so as not to be mistaken with the name of an existing private college in the city.

May 20, 1997 can be considered a remarkable day under the administration of the Hon. Mayor Vicente B. Amante because finally the creation and establishment of the college was approved. The next day, May 21, 1997, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Laguna during its regular session approved its establishment and operation. This was a dream come true for the father of San Pablo and founder of the city college, since he himself was not able to finish tertiary or college education. This even gave him more inspiration in establishing a city college for the city’s youth who come from underprivileged families. He firmly believes that education will always be the legacy that he can give his constituents and that is – DLSP, his brainchild. In barely three months, from the date of its conception to its actual operation, a tertiary educational institution was established and operated by the city government of San Pablo – DLSP. It offers college education at very minimal expense to deserving youth of the city and nearby towns and neighboring provinces.

In retrospection, Ordinance No. 97-15, pursuant to Art. 2 Section 458, No. 10 of Subsection 5 of the Local Government Code of 1991, was passed, authored by the then Chairman of the Committee on Education, Hon. Pablo O. Ticzon.

On June 15, 1997, the permit to operate the college was granted by the Commission on Higher Education, and gave DLSP the authority to start holding classes on July 2, 1997.

Salient sections of Ordinance No. 97-15:

Section 1: DLSP opens on school year 1997-1998.

Section 2: The course offerings for said school year are: Bachelor of Secondary Education, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Computer Science, Associate in Computer Science and Computer Technology shall be offered as soon as the faculty and facilities become available.

Section 3: The Administration of the college shall be under the management of the College Administrative Board.

Section 4: The policies that will be issued by the Administrative Board which will adversely affect the rights of the teachers and students of the city college shall be subject to the review and approval of the Sangguniang Panlunsod.

Section 5: The students shall pay reasonable tuition and miscellaneous fees that will be charged by the college as maybe determined and prescribed by the Administrative Board.

On November 3, 1999, the Sangguniang Panlunsod in its regular session amended Ordinance No. 97-15. In this ordinance (Ordinance No. 99-15) no mention was made about the Administrative Board but it provided that the Board of Trustees shall make its recommendations on policies of the college to the Sangguniang Panlunsod.

On September 10, 2001, the Sangguniang Panlunsod in its regular session amended Ordinance No. 97-15. The amended Ordinance (Ordinance No. 2001-27), authored by the Hon. Councilor Edgardo D. Adajar, provides that the Board Trustees is still the policy-making body.

Source: DLSP Student Handbook 2018