In a move that hopes to bring back one of its most storied programs, the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) Academic and Administrative Councils have officially endorsed the reopening of its Bachelor of Science in Maritime Transportation (BSMT) course. The formal and unanimous recommendation came during a Special Academic Council Meeting held at the Dingle Campus’ Knowledge Management Hub on Monday, July 7, 2025. Alongside the BSMT, the university also greenlit proposals for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a Doctor in Information Technology (DIT), all of which are now set for final review by the Board of Regents ahead of Academic Year 2025–2026.
The return of the BSMT program reflects ISUFST’s renewed commitment to its maritime roots, backed by strong academic and administrative support. To help align the program with global standards, an ISUFST BSMT Program team will conduct a benchmarking visit to the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) in Pasay City on July 10–11, 2025—building on an earlier visit to the University of Antique last June 20, 2025.
“This is more than a revival—it’s a return to one of our foundational strengths as a university deeply rooted in coastal and maritime communities,” said ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr. “We are not merely offering a course; we are reigniting a legacy that has lifted families and changed lives.”
The BSMT program once served as the university’s flagship course under its former identity as the Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF). In Academic Year 2012–2013, it accounted for 76% of total campus enrollment, with a strong track record in national board exams. From 2015 to 2017, ISCOF produced two topnotchers and posted passing rates of 91% in Master Mariner, 87% in Chief Mate, and 87% in Officer-in-Charge for Navigational Watch assessments.
The current revival includes plans to rehabilitate the old library into simulation classrooms, with a new Maritime Building slated for construction. Equipment procurement, including a Full Mission Bridge Simulator, is underway. Maritime-specific library materials are being acquired, and a hiring plan is in motion to onboard qualified, Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW)-compliant faculty members.
Dr. Christine Diocos, Director of the Quality Assurance and Management Center, led the June 2025 cross-visit to the University of Antique’s BSMT program, which served as an early benchmarking effort. “Our goal is to ensure that the program will be globally relevant and locally responsive from day one,” Diocos emphasized. The BSMT Team is composed of nine (9) faculty members, administrators, and staff form ISUFST, most of which come from the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS).
Geographically, ISUFST’s location along Iloilo’s coastal belt strengthens its case. The Tiwi site in Barotac Nuevo, where the BSMT will be housed, is home to numerous seafaring families, many of whom have sent children into maritime careers that provided economic mobility. Local success stories from former ISCOF graduates continue to inspire interest in the program, especially among underprivileged but capable youth.
Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga noted that “bringing back BSMT not only addresses the maritime workforce demand but also expands ISUFST’s mission of accessible and inclusive education for coastal communities.” She added that the university is also working to ensure the program meets the standards of Joint CHED-MARINA Memorandum Circular No. 2, s. 2023.
The BSMT revival joins a broader set of academic reforms unanimously approved for endorsement during the July 7 Academic Council and Administrative Council meetings, including the BSN and DIT programs, the ISUFST Brand Book, and a revised institutional mandate and mission—all crafted to support the university’s alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and CHED’s call for faculty strengthening, innovation, and social impact. Application for admission is expected to open by latter part of AY 2025–2026, pending CHED approval.
Support from Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferjenel Biron has been instrumental. A long-time champion of ISUFST, Rep. Biron has committed to helping fund the conversion of the Tiwi library into a Maritime Building, as well as the relocation of library services to the future P22.5-million University Learning Center—an adjacent project also backed by Biron.
“This is the kind of partnership that makes change possible,” said Dr. Siason. “When institutional vision meets public service, we create something that benefits not just our students but entire communities.”
Pending BOR, and eventually CHED, approval, the BSMT program will open with one 40-student class in AY 2026–2027. Recruitment will be highly selective, competitive, and merit-based, ensuring the first cohort meets the rigor of maritime education and the demands of the industry.
With a proud history in maritime education, ISUFST remains the only state university in Iloilo uniquely positioned to train the country’s future seafarers. Bringing back the BSMT program is a commitment not just to its past but to the promise of building a world-class maritime workforce rooted in local strength and global vision. (Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)
