The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) visited the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) on Monday, July 28, 2025, to conduct a preliminary evaluation for the proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, targeted to launch in the first semester of Academic Year 2026–2027 at the ISUFST Main Campus–Poblacion Site, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
Dr. Arnold John Anceno, Education Supervisor II of CHED Regional Office VI, did the technical assistance visit held at the CICT Conference Room. The assessment reviewed ISUFST’s program proposal and initial compliance with CHED’s Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) requirements.
With strong planning and clear alignment with CHED’s guidelines, ISUFST is in a promising spot, Dr. Anceno, a medical doctor himself, shared. He is hopeful the BS Nursing program will gain approval by next year.
During the visit, Dr. Anceno examined key documents and toured proposed facilities like amphitheaters and mock hospitals, essential for future nurses’ training. To make this possible, ISUFST intends to retrofit its College of Education (CoEd) and College of Industrial Technology (CIT) buildings at the Poblacion site to serve as the future home of the College of Nursing. Meanwhile, current CoEd and CIT students will be relocated to the Tiwi Site of the Main Campus in AY 2026-2027 to accommodate the transition.
The visit was in response to a formal request made by ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., following a previously postponed schedule due to work suspension caused by bad weather conditions. In the request, Dr. Siason emphasized the importance of CHED’s guidance during the university’s preliminary evaluation for COPC application.
“This is more than an institutional expansion—it’s a mission to provide community-responsive, accessible nursing education in northern Iloilo,” Dr. Siason said during the consultation. “We want to produce future nurses who are deeply grounded in service and competence.”
The proposed BSN program is the first of its kind to be offered outside Iloilo City in the northern part of the province. ISUFST had earlier conducted a consultation with Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) National President Dr. Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte, who expressed strong support for the initiative, noting the urgent need for localized nursing education in underserved areas.
To ensure program quality, ISUFST is pursuing partnerships with several hospitals in the region, including the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center, Iloilo Provincial Hospital, Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital, and Asia Pacific Medical Center–Iloilo, for clinical training and Related Learning Experiences (RLE).
The university also held a stakeholder consultation on July 15 to define the BSN program’s Vision, Goals, Mission, and Objectives (VGMO), engaging local government units, barangay health workers, alumni, students, and parents. According to ISUFST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga, the university is now coordinating benchmarking visits and faculty recruitment to meet program and compliance requirements.
“We are aligning every step with CHED standards, but we are also staying true to ISUFST’s brand of quality education—rooted in local context and driven by global relevance,” Dr. Belga noted.
With the COPC application process underway, ISUFST is optimistic about its chances, bolstered by its ISO 9001:2015 certification, AACCUP accreditations, and recent CHED awards for excellence in community extension, internationalization, and Indigenous Peoples education.
Founded in 1957, ISUFST is the country’s first and only state university for fisheries. It now offers 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs across five campuses, serving over 8,500 students. The planned BSN is part of the university’s expansion into high-demand sectors identified in the Philippine Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Admission to the BSN program is expected to open by the latter part of AY 2025–2026, pending CHED approval. Updates will be released through ISUFST’s official platforms. (Photos by Ricky Ramos/Text by Herman Lagon/ PAMMCO)
