The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) has taken its first major step toward launching a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at its Main Campus–Poblacion Site in Barotac Nuevo by holding an initial consultation meeting today, July 2, 2025, with Dr. Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte, a prominent educator and newly elected National President of the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA).
The consultation with ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga, and other key university officials, explored the academic, logistical, and regulatory requirements for opening the proposed BSN program by the first semester of Academic Year 2026–2027. Application for admission is expected to open by latter part of AY 2025–2026, pending CHED approval.
“This is more than a campaign promise—it is a commitment to community-responsive education,” said Dr. Siason, noting that both he and Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferjenel Biron had earlier expressed the intent to open a nursing program at ISUFST. “We are determined to ensure that our future nursing students receive quality, values-driven education grounded in our university’s core mission and aligned with regional health needs.”
The proposed BSN program is envisioned to complement ISUFST’s existing program offerings and to become the first nursing degree program in northern Iloilo offered outside Iloilo City. Alongside BSN, the university is also processing the proposed Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation (BSMT) program for its Tiwi campus in Barotac Nuevo, also targeted to begin by AY 2026–2027.
Dr. Belo-Delariarte, who hails from Barotac Nuevo and currently serves as PNA Region VI Governor on top of being PNA national chief, lauded ISUFST’s initiative and provided expert input on aligning the program with national nursing standards. “There is a strong need for accessible and community-based nursing education, especially in rural and underserved areas,” she emphasized. “ISUFST is in a strategic position to fill that gap.” She added, “It brings me great pride as a Barotacnon to witness this bold move from ISUFST. Nursing is not just a career—it is a commitment to life, and offering it here means empowering our own communities to rise through care and competence.”
In preparation for the program rollout, ISUFST is eyeing formal partnerships with major hospitals in the province for clinical training and Related Learning Experiences (RLE). These include the Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center (DJSMMC), located just a block away from the main campus, as well as the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan, Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Dumangas, and Asia Pacific Medical Center–Iloilo.
A larger stakeholder consultation is scheduled for July 15, 2025, to help establish the Vision, Goals, Mission, and Objectives (VGMO) of the BSN program. This meeting will include local government officials, barangay representatives, health workers, alumni, student leaders, and parents—signaling ISUFST’s commitment to participatory planning and community ownership.
“We want this program to be rooted in local realities and designed with long-term sustainability and relevance,” said Dr. Belga, who will lead the coordination of benchmarking visits, facility enhancements, and faculty recruitment. “Our preparation includes not just CHED compliance but also ensuring we uphold ISUFST’s trademark of excellence in instruction, extension, research, and innovation.”
The university aims to start with one section each for both BSN and BSMT, ensuring manageable class sizes and focused instruction during the initial rollout phase. As with all CHED-regulated health science programs, BSN will require compliance with specific faculty credentials, laboratory facilities, simulation equipment, and clinical affiliation standards. Prospective students will also undergo rigorous academic screening and physical and mental health evaluations prior to admission.
The application for CHED program recognition is already underway, with ISUFST officials confident that the institution’s strong track record of quality assurance, including its ISO 9001:2015 certification and AACCUP accreditations, will bolster its application.
Founded in 1957 and designated as the country’s first and only state university for fisheries, ISUFST has evolved into a comprehensive institution with 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs across five campuses with 8,500 students and 280 faculty members, half of whom hold PhD degrees in their respective fields. The addition of BSN and BSMT will mark a significant expansion of its academic footprint into health and maritime sciences—sectors identified by the Philippine government as critical to national development.
With its recent awards from CHED for excellence in Indigenous Peoples Education, community extension, and internationalization, ISUFST continues to embody its commitment to inclusive, accessible, and socially relevant education aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Our legacy is not only in producing competent professionals but in shaping servant-leaders who will bring health, hope, and humanity to the communities they serve,” Dr. Siason added.
Updates on the admission process, curriculum, and program partnerships will be announced in the coming months through ISUFST’s official channels. (Photos by Herman Lagon and Rholan Mark Basaygan/Text by Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)
