Rodolfo Ceferino “Dolfing” Treyes Lizares, Sr.

The year 1946 was ushered in by dazzling rays of hope for peace, progress, and freedom after the Philippines was devastated by the ravages of World War II. Through his vision and foresight, eminent physician Dr. Nicolas G. Escario, Sr. founded the present prestigious institution of learning in Cebu, the Cebu Institute of Technology. In collaboration with three illustrious Cebuano technocrats: Engr. Fidel C. Dagani, Engr. Amancio A. Alcordo, and Engr. Jose A. Cavan, Dr. Escario prepared the groundwork for the establishment of the institution. The proposal for the academic venture convinced the future CIT Board of Trustees of its feasibility and the wisdom of opening an engineering school. The project reached its final stage when Don Simplicio A. Lizares, Sr. was elected as CIT’s first Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Nicolas G. Escario, Sr., as President, and Don Rodolfo T. Lizares, Sr. as Vice President who all together pooled their resources to put up the required facilities and services of the institution.

The Cebu Institute of Technology opened in 1946 with two pre-fabricated structures on F. Ramos Street. The school started with 512 pioneering students enrolled in high school and college levels. It offered: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering, Architecture, and vocational programs. In tune with the objective of the higher education to answer the needs of the time and to complement the technical programs offered, the first non-technical program offered was the Liberal Arts in 1947, Pharmacy and Junior Normal programs in 1948, and Education in 1949. The Vocational department was phased out in 1951 while the College of Commerce was opened in the same year. Two years later, in 1953, the Sanitary Engineering department started. To meet the demands of the growing society, other programs were offered such as Pre-Medicine in 1957 and Secretarial in 1958.

On November 1, 1958, the CIT Founder and first President Dr. Nicolas G. Escario, Sr. died, leaving the legacy of a dignified politician, honest statesman, and a compassionate physician. At that time, he was able to put up eight semi-concrete school buildings located on C. Padilla Street.

Don Rodolfo T. Lizares, Sr. took over as the second President of CIT. In 1960, under the helm of the new President, the Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering was offered. In affiliation with Cebu Velez College, the pre-Nursing and Doctor of Medicine programs were also offered in the same year. Foreseeing the demands for Science and Technology, the Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering program was opened in 1968.

Resourceful and bold in his program for progress, Don Rodolfo T. Lizares, Sr. then replaced the old structures with modern buildings and consequently acquired more facilities in line with the progressive trends in educational management. With his abiding faith in the education of the youth and great zeal of leadership, he acquired a new site for CIT on the N. Bacalso Avenue in 1965 and erected a modern four storey building which was initially occupied by the college graduating students of 1971. Gradually, the remaining colleges at C. Padilla were transferred to the new site. The new campus soon housed the administrative staff, college academic buildings, college library, engineering and science laboratories, and provided sprawling grounds for parking, athletics, and drill purposes. Towards the end of 1978, President Rodolfo T. Lizares, Sr., took the boldest venture by engaging in a multi-million-development plan with the Educational Project Implementing Task Force (EDPITAF) of the government. Through this program, CIT became the resource-based institution for engineering programs in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

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