SDG 14

February 20 2026

World Day of Social Justice

ISUFST Admin Activities SDG 14, SDG 16, SDG 17

February 20, 2026

ISUFST proudly stands with the global observance of the World Day of Social Justice, affirming its support for the call of the Too-Big-To-Ignore (TBTI) Philippines National Consortium for Small-Scale Fisheries Research and Development.

Together with TBTI Philippines, we uphold the full implementation of RA 8550, as amended by RA 10654, protecting the 15-kilometer municipal waters for our small-scale fisherfolk. Their rights, livelihoods, and dignity matter.

Our municipal fisherfolk are too big to ignore. (ISUFST | PAMMCO)

February 12 2026

ISUFST–Ehime University Joint Academic Exchange & Research Symposium

ISUFST Admin Research SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 2, SDG 4

The ISUFST–Ehime University Joint Academic Exchange & Research Symposium was successfully held on 11 February 2026 at the Hasa-Hasa Theater, gathering faculty members, researchers, and students for a meaningful exchange on Aquatic Science, Evolution, and Biodiversity.

The symposium was graced by institutional preliminaries and welcome remarks from Dr. Quin Y. Clarito, Program Chairman, BS Fisheries, and was further enriched by the presence and messages of university officials led by Dr. Stephen Raymund T. Jinon, Vice President for Academic Affairs,, and Dr. Nordy D. Siasón, Jr., University President, emphasizing the University’s strong support for international academic exchange and research collaboration.

The presentation proper highlighted ISUFST research outputs presented by Ms. Charm O. Nochete, Science Research Specialist; an institutional overview of CFAS by Dr. Rolindo B. Demo-os, Jr., Dean of CFAS; and a CFAS student research presentation by Ms. Arlene May Linacero. Faculty research was further showcased through Dr. Mary Mar N. Payne, Project Leader of the DOST–PCAARRD Pearl Genes Project.

The academic exchange was enriched by the Ehime University Research Presentation delivered by Dr. Kozo Watanabe, Professor at the Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), and Jomel S. Limbago, DSc Candidate and alumnus, culminating in an open forum that fostered collaborative discussions and future research linkages.

This joint symposium reaffirmed the strong partnership between Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology and Ehime University—advancing international collaboration, research excellence, and shared commitment to sustainable aquatic and biodiversity sciences.

December 12 2025

ISUFST clinches its FIRST ICON AWARD

ISUFST Admin Recognitions SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 4

The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) marked a historic moment in its 68-year journey after receiving national distinction at the Commission on Higher Education’s Internationalization Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability (ICONS) Awards on December 10, 2025, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

CHED holds its annual ICONS Awards to celebrate Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) for their crucial role in championing the country’s higher education sector on the international stage. The ICONS Awards 2025 acknowledges Philippine HEIs that are beginning to show up in international ranking tables, celebrating not just the data but the stories behind them—the push for sustainability, the widening of ASEAN awareness, the growing spirit of global engagement. It is also a space where the visionaries and everyday workers behind these strides are honored.

For the first time, ISUFST joins the roster of ICONS awardees—a milestone that reflects the university’s rising presence beyond the shoreline and its growing impact on the country’s higher education landscape.

Representing the university at the ceremony was Dr. Jeanette G. Bayona, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Linkages, who carried the pride of the ISUFST community as she received the award. For her, the recognition felt deeply personal for a university built from the quiet perseverance of coastal communities.

“ISUFST may be a small university by national standards, but our dreams for our students have always been big,” Dr. Bayona said. “This award tells us that our efforts—to connect, to collaborate, and to open global doors for our learners—are finally being seen. It inspires us to do even more.”

This ICONS honor comes at a turning point for ISUFST, which has been quietly building its global connections through collaborations, faculty upskilling, and programs that bring the world closer to its coastal campus. As President Dr. Nordy D. Siason, Jr., CESO VI noted, the award captures the university’s spirit as much as its achievements.

“This is a milestone shaped by many hands—teachers who give more than what is required, students who dare to dream beyond our shores, and communities who believe in the promise of education,” Dr. Siason said. “For the first time in our history, ISUFST has been recognized on a national stage for internationalization. This is a victory we dedicate to the families and fisherfolk who built this university from the ground up.”

He added that the ICONS recognition strengthens ISUFST’s resolve to keep improving.

“We will continue creating programs and partnerships that honor our roots in fisheries while pushing us toward global relevance,” he said.

ISUFST also marked two more “firsts” this year—its inclusion in the UI GreenMetric and the 2024 THE Impact Rankings, both affirming its identity, especially in Life Below Water. For a university shaped by the sea and the families who depend on it, these recognitions feel like small waves turning into big tides. As ISUFST turns this new page, it carries with it a warm promise of a more connected and sustainable future for the next generation. (Julius Ruger Hermano | Herman Lagon | OIAL | PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufst #isufstcommunity #pammcostoriesthatmatter

December 8 2025

ISUFST Secures First-Ever Spot in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings

ISUFST Admin Recognitions SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 7

The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) has taken a meaningful step onto the global sustainability stage, earning its first-ever placement in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2025, securing 1102nd out of 1,745 universities worldwide. It is also third overall in Western Visayas, next to WVSU and ISATU. For many ISUFSTians, this recognition is a simple but meaningful affirmation and concrete transformation: their everyday efforts are truly making an impact.

The 15th UI GreenMetric Ranking measures how these universities worldwide commit to climate responsibility—from clean energy to waste, water, transport, and sustainability education. This year’s theme highlights how campuses must make sustainability part of their story, not just their projects.

ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr., CESO VI, shared, “This milestone is more than a ranking—it’s a reminder that change starts with simple choices done consistently.” “We thank the dedicated ISUFST team who worked tirelessly on the GreenMetric documentation and our faculty, staff, students, and partner communities who prove every day that protecting our environment is shared work.”

ISUFST’s sustainability footprint is composed of lived stories—student-led mangrove plantings, community-managed marine sites, climate lessons rooted in experience, and campus-wide efforts to reduce waste and conserve energy. The Agri-Ecotourism Farm in Bongloy, ISUFST Dingle Campus, embodies this work by merging environmental learning with livelihood opportunities. These efforts show that sustainability here is not just compliance—it is culture.

As the nation’s sole fisheries university, ISUFST’s GreenMetric ranking affirms its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that shape the future of the agri-fisheries sector and the communities it uplifts. It is worth noting that it also secures the 57th spot among 89 participating institutions in the Philippines.

The recognition also supports ISUFST’s vision to become a purpose-driven and globally engaged institution. The milestone follows ISUFST’s recent CHED recognitions and its entry into the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

“Sustainability outlives us,” said Dr. Siason. “We do this for our students today and the communities they will someday lead.”

ISUFST moves forward steadily—working with partners, learning from its communities, and choosing greener paths, one step at a time. (Rex Paulino | Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufstcommunity #isufst #pammcostoriesthatmatter

October 24 2025

ISUFST Showcases 16 Scientific and Creative Works on Small-Scale Fisheries at National Symposium in Marawi

ISUFST Admin Activities, Extension, Gender and Development, International Affairs SDG 1, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8

MARAWI CITY — As the Philippines pushes for stronger protection of its small-scale fishers through the “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro” bill, faculty and students from the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) joined hundreds of advocates in Mindanao to turn research into resolve.

Eight ISUFST delegates—seven faculty members and one fisheries student—presented 16 research and creative works at the Second Philippine Small-Scale Fisheries National Symposium (PSSFNS2) held on October 21–23, 2025, at the Mindanao State University (MSU)–Main Campus in Marawi City. The works, blending science, storytelling, and song, championed sustainability and inclusivity in the country’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector.

“Too Big To Ignore”

Gathering over 300 scientists, educators, artists, fishers, students, and policymakers, the three-day symposium carried the theme “From Recognition to Action.” Organized by MSU and Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) Philippines, it called for stronger and fairer policies to protect the country’s 15-kilometer municipal waters—the very heart of the “Atin ang Kinse” campaign, which fights for the rightful space of small fishers in their own seas.

“This consortium of universities, agencies, and communities aims to make small-scale fisheries visible, viable, and sustainable,” said Dr. Glen Lorenzo, MSU Vice President for Research and Extension. The gathering also tackled pressing issues such as climate change, overfishing, and illegal encroachment by commercial vessels—threats that the pending “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Bill” (HB 5606) seeks to address.

ISUFST’s Contributions: Science, Art, and Advocacy

Representing ISUFST were Dr. Rolindo B. Demo-os Jr., Dr. Jescel B. Bito-onon, Prof. Rother M. Gaudiel, Dr. Quin Y. Clarito, Dr. Michael B. Dizon, Instructor Jezreel C. Donguila, Dr. Herman M. Lagon, and BS Fisheries student Melody Vaughn Ferrer.

Their diverse outputs—from fisheries research and photo essays to poetry and original songs—embodied ISUFST’s belief that science and culture can work together to heal and protect the seas.

Among the technical studies were “Catch Rates and Fishery Characterization of Filter Nets in Tinori-an River, Iloilo” by Bito-onon and Gaudiel, and “Fishing Smarter: Comparative Analysis of Fish Pot Designs Used by Small-Scale Fishers in Banate Bay” by Clarito.

Ferrer’s team, composed of CFAS students and faculty, presented “Pearl and Other Economically Valuable Oysters of Northern Iloilo: Morphometric Insights for Conservation and Fisheries.” The study highlighted the balance between livelihood and conservation—and won second place in the oral presentation category, besting entries from universities nationwide.

“These projects show how local innovation builds resilience in small-scale fisheries,” said Dr. Bito-onon, ISUFST Director for Research and Development. “It’s not just about data; it’s about empowering the communities that depend on our waters.”

Art Meets Advocacy

The symposium also celebrated creative works that bridged science and human experience. Dr. Herman M. Lagon’s poetry, short stories, and photography collections—“Between Net and Node,” “The Net That Holds,” “Where the Line Holds,” “Of Change,” “Lines of Salt and Hope,” “When Only the Bangkas Rest,” and “When Currents Meet the Roots”—captured the soul of coastal life: its struggles, rhythm, and hope.

Lagon, together with Instr. Jezreel C. Donguila, also presented two original advocacy songs, “Let the Line Hold” and “The Lines We Cast,” inspired by the Atin ang Kinse campaign. The songs, arranged with karaoke-style visuals and live footage edited by Patrick Lance Nacion using images from Dean Demo-os and Dr. Lagon, were performed by Donguila during the closing plenary and MOA signing ceremony—drawing resounding applause from the audience.

Beyond the symposium halls, the ISUFST delegation experienced Maranao hospitality. On the first night, delegates were treated to a Pagana Meranao dinner—an elaborate ceremonial feast where guests “eat like royalty.” Seated around a grand tabak (ornate tray), they shared flavorful dishes with their hands in true Maranao fashion.

The Marawi Manifesto and a Promise for the Future

The symposium concluded with the signing of the Marawi Manifesto, a collective pledge of support for the Atin ang Kinse movement and the Too Big To Ignore (TBTI) advocacy for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient fisheries. During the signing, Donguila’s live rendition of “Let the Line Hold” and “The Lines We Cast” filled the MSU gymnasium as photos of fisherfolk and coastal communities played onscreen—a moment described by many as “a hymn for the sea and the people who live by it.”

Participants also celebrated the acceptance of Batangas State University (BSU) as the next host of PSSFNS3 in 2026, marking the continued expansion of the TBTI network across the archipelago.

They capped the symposium with a visit to Marawi’s Ground Zero, where the scars of war stood as a solemn reminder that battles for survival come in many forms. Just as Marawi once fought for the right to life and peace, today’s Atin ang Kinse movement fights for the right of small fishers—and the seas they depend on—to live and thrive.

A Shared Mission

ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. commended the delegation for embodying the university’s vision of blending “science, culture, arts, and compassion in service of people and planet.” He emphasized that ISUFST’s efforts directly align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

For ISUFST, the symposium was more than an academic event—it was a reminder of purpose. “When we tell the stories of small fishers, artistically and scientifically,” said Lagon, “we’re also telling the story of our shared future.”

The PSSFNS2 came at a crucial time, as fisherfolk groups renewed calls for the passage of the “Atin ang Kinse Kilometro Bill” (HB 5606). The measure seeks to restore small fishers’ exclusive rights to municipal waters—rights recently challenged by a court ruling favoring commercial vessels.

From the shores of Banate to the lakes of Lanao, the message of PSSFNS2 was clear: small-scale fishers are too big to ignore. (PAMMCO)

#ISUFSTisdaFirst #ISUFSTCommunity #PAMMCOStoriesThatMatter #AtinAngKinse #PSSFNS2 #LifeBelowWater

October 20 2025

ISUFST Honors Two Topnotchers in 2025 Fisheries Board Exam, Awards ₱50,000 Incentive

ISUFST Admin Recognitions SDG 14, SDG 4

Joy and pride filled the Main Tiwi Campus of the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) this morning, October 20, 2025 during the flag raising ceremony as the university honored its newest Fisheries Board Exam topnotchers — Leslie Kate T. Macaling and Andrei Von T. Villarin — both graduates of BS Fisheries Batch 2025 who placed 8th nationwide, with a rating of 89.00%, earning distinction among the country’s best. Each received ₱50,000 in cash incentives from the university in recognition of their outstanding achievement.

University President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. personally led the awarding, commending the two for bringing pride and honor to ISUFST. In his message, Dr. Siason praised their discipline and grit, calling them symbols of what ISUFST stands for — education that empowers and success that inspires. “Their success reflects the dedication, discipline, and vision that define our students and mentors. These achievements are the fruits of our shared pursuit of excellence,” he said.

Also, other Fisheries Board Exam passers were recognized by being awarded with certificates of recognition for their accomplishment and perseverance.

The College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS), the premier program of the university, also marked a robust overall performance with a passing rate of 77.14%, exceeding the national average of 69.61%.

The recognition emphasized not only scholarly achievement but also the university’s strong dedication to shaping skilled professionals who operate with integrity and intent—aligned with ISUFST’s mission to support both communities and coastlines. (𝘌𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘺 𝘈. 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘰/𝘗𝘈𝘔𝘔𝘊𝘖)

#ISUFST #ISUFSTISDAFIRST #ISUFSTCOMMUNITY #PAMMCOSTORIESTHATMATTERS

October 7 2025

BS Fisheries Program Achieves AACCUP Level IV Re-Accreditation

ISUFST Admin Activities, Recognitions SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 4

The Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSF) Program of the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS) has successfully earned 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝗩 𝗥𝗲-𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 (𝗔𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗨𝗣), 𝗜𝗻𝗰., with an outstanding overall rating of 4.7 out of 5.0.

This achievement reflects the program’s unwavering commitment to the highest standards of academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement, the hallmarks of a globally competitive fisheries institution. It also highlights the dedication of CFAS faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders in advancing quality education and sustainable practices in the field.

As CFAS continues its journey toward becoming a Center of Excellence in Fisheries, this milestone reinforces our collective commitment to quality assurance, innovation, and sustainability in fisheries and aquatic sciences.

Proudly, we uphold our mantra—
We Learn. We Sustain.

To more and beyond, CFAS!

(by JCB Salarza and CJC Villanueva

World Day of Social Justice

ISUFST–Ehime University Joint Academic Exchange & Research Symposium

ISUFST clinches its FIRST ICON AWARD

ISUFST Secures First-Ever Spot in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings

ISUFST Showcases 16 Scientific and Creative Works on Small-Scale Fisheries at National Symposium in Marawi

ISUFST Honors Two Topnotchers in 2025 Fisheries Board Exam, Awards ₱50,000 Incentive

BS Fisheries Program Achieves AACCUP Level IV Re-Accreditation

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The first and only State University of Fisheries in the Philippines

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ISUFST

The first and only State University of Fisheries in the Philippines

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