ANOTHER milestone in the history of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) unfolds as the Inception Meeting and Planning Session on the Implementation of the Localization of Women’s and Children’s Policies Project was held at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, Megaworld Boulevard, in the bustling Iloilo Business Park.

This pivotal event marked the beginning of a significant research and extension collaborative project spearheaded by the first and only fisheries university in the country, in claboration with De La Salle University and the Office of Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

 

Participated in by select professors and stakeholders of the school, the event featured ISUFST Consultant Prof. Eddie Nuque and Dr. Francisco Magno, Director of the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance at DLSU.

 

The project, a major initiative, aims to assess the local implementation of national policies concerning women and children, highlight the promotion of their rights, and position Iloilo as a Gender and Development Local Learning Hub, certified by the Philippines Commission on Women.

Dr. Francisco Magno, highlighting the project’s scope, affirmed that this initiative represents a transformative step in local governance. By focusing on women and children, he said that the team is targeting the roots of societal change, ensuring that progress and development are both inclusive and sustainable.

 

Prof. Eddie Nuque, affirming ISUFST’s role, also said that ISUFST is poised to be a beacon of knowledge and action. He explained that the involvement of the school underlines its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals and the betterment of society.

 

The hybrid meeting kicked off with an address from ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., who shared his high expectations for the project’s outcomes. He stressed that ISUFST owes it to Dr. Magno and his team from DLSU to ensure that the project’s outputs are not only quantitatively robust but also qualitatively impactful,” he emphasized.

 

The year-long project’s objectives are centered around generating baseline knowledge on the implementation of women’s and children’s policies in Iloilo, improving and sustaining their welfare and rights, and integrating the Sustainable Development Goals into ISUFST’s curriculum and community involvement.

 

ISUFST, having celebrated its first anniversary as a university on January 10, 2024, is built on a rich history dating back to 1957. The university has evolved from the Central Iloilo National School of Fisheries to its current status, offering a wide range of programs and contributing significantly to regional and national development.