SDG 3

September 10 2026

ISUFST Joins Regional OSH Council Meeting

ISUFST Admin Activities SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 8

Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) joined fellow institutions and stakeholders at the Quarterly Regional Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committee Meeting held on September 9, 2026, at Smallville 21 Hotel, Iloilo City.

Representing ISUFST were Dr. Rushkie Arabejo, University DRRM Director; Dr. Arvin Haro; and Dr. Kharle Joehn Hautea, University Physician, underscoring the University’s commitment to strengthening occupational safety, health, disaster preparedness, and employee well-being across its campuses.

Convened by the Department of Labor and Employment–Occupational Safety and Health Center (DOLE-OSHC), Regional Extension Unit VI, the meeting brought committee members together to discuss the consolidated regional plan of action and timeline covering advocacy, training, networking, accreditation and technical services, and recognition and incentives.

The gathering also provided participating organizations a venue to coordinate efforts and strengthen partnerships toward safer and healthier workplaces in Western Visayas.

For ISUFST, participation in regional initiatives such as this reflects the University’s continuing commitment to integrity, social justice, discipline, and academic excellence (ISDA)—recognizing that institutional excellence also means creating workplaces where people are protected, prepared, and cared for. (Photos by Kharlle Joehn Hautea | PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufst #isufstcommunity #pammcostoriesthatmatter

July 1 2026

Step Up Phase 3 Equips San Enrique Educators to Strengthen Career Guidance and Safe Schools

ISUFST Admin Extension SDG 16, SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4

SAN ENRIQUE, Iloilo—Teachers and guidance designates from the Municipality of San Enrique experienced two days of further learning, collaboration, and planning in areas that are highly relevant nowadays. The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), in collaboration with West Visayas State University (WVSU) and the Local Government Unit of San Enrique, successfully finished Project STEP UP (San Enrique Training for Educators and Professionals in Uplifting Psychosocial Support) Phase 3 on June 25–26 at the Tourism and Cultural Center.

The third phase of the six-phase extension program of ISUFST was focused on Career Guidance and Bullying Prevention, providing participants with practical knowledge and school-based solutions that may be easily implemented in their schools. The activity is part of the continuous STEP UP effort to improve psychosocial support services and learner well-being in San Enrique.

Day one was designed to enable guidance designates and wellness advocates guide learners to make informed educational and career choices.

Dr. Herman M. Lagon, RGC, of ISUFST kicked off the talks through a session on Understanding Career Development Across the Lifespan. He emphasized that career guidance is not just about helping students to select a vocation. it is helping learners to identify their abilities, interests, values and goals and to make choices about their future.

Prof. Jan Iris Faye M. Basbas, RGC, of WVSU gave a talk on how to determine the learners’ strengths, interests, and aspirations. Dr. Hilda C. Montaño, RGC, of WVSU, on the other hand, discussed the current career trends and opportunities in Iloilo and beyond to help participants relate career guidance to local and emerging employment opportunities.

Practical applications took center stage in the afternoon as Mrs. Junna Mari G. Pacardo, RGC, introduced career guidance tools and school-based activities, followed by a workshop on designing a Career Guidance Week facilitated by Dr. Imelda M. Arenga, RGC. The day concluded with a reflection session led by Ms. Keziah A. Lagarto, RGC, encouraging participants to envision the kind of future they hope to help create for their learners. All the three are guidance couselors from ISUFST.

On the second day, discussions shifted toward creating safer and more inclusive schools.

Dr. Rejie F. Palmos, RGC, of WVSU led sessions on bullying prevention, child protection, restorative practices, and conflict resolution, highlighting the importance of early intervention, empathy, and restorative approaches in resolving school concerns.

Ms. Roussel Justin B. Esmeralda, RGC, of ISUFST discussed Republic Act No. 10627 and the DepEd Child Protection Policy, helping participants better understand their responsibilities in protecting learners and responding appropriately to reported cases.

Participants then engaged in hands-on workshops. Dr. Lagon facilitated a session on Case Handling and Documentation, where participants analyzed school-based situations and practiced proper documentation and referral procedures. Prof. Ruby P. Faunillo, RGC, of ISUFST, guided participants in designing school-based anti-bullying advocacy campaigns, while Dr. Amabel T. Siason, RGC, of WVSU led the development of localized Child Protection Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) flowcharts.

The two-day activity brought together the participants to collaboratively work on outputs that they can implement in their respective schools. These outputs are Career Guidance Week Plans, Career Opportunities and Referral Matrices, Anti-Bullying Advocacy Plans, Child Protection SOP Flowcharts, and School Commitment Statements for Safe and Inclusive Schools. These outputs are intended to boost advisory services and learner protection programs in anticipation of School Year 2026–2027.

For ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr., CESO VI, the success of STEP UP goes beyond the conduct of a training program. It is about building lasting partnerships that help schools better serve their learners.

“Every learner deserves a school where they feel safe, valued, and encouraged to dream. Through Project STEP UP, we are investing not only in the professional growth of our teachers and guidance advocates but also in the future of every child they will guide. Our partnership with the Municipality of San Enrique and West Visayas State University reflects our shared commitment to making quality education more responsive, compassionate, and inclusive,” Dr. Siason said.

The activity ended with the STEP UP Safe Schools Commitment Rites, when participants literally took oath to advance the promotion of learner well-being, career preparedness, child protection and inclusive school communities through the plans they established throughout the training.

Project STEP UP continues to highlight the need of partnerships between higher education institutions, local government and schools in establishing stronger systems of support for learners. Building on the expertise of guidance counselor-volunteers from ISUFST and WVSU, and with the support of the LGU of San Enrique, the initiative continues to equip educators with practical tools that help learners discover their potential while ensuring that schools remain safe, inclusive and nurturing environments for all.

Project STEP UP will continue with Phase 4 on August 27–28, focusing on Parents Engagement and the Review and Evaluation of Participants’ School-Based Implementation of the strategies and outputs developed during the earlier phases. (PAMMCO)

#ISUFSTISDAFirst #ISUFSTCommunity #STEPUPtoCare #ProjectSTEPUP #CareerGuidance #SafeSchools #ChildProtection #ISUFST #ISUFSTMIS #PAMMCOAmbassadors #PAMMCOStoriesThatMatter

March 3 2026

San Enrique Educators Take PFA Oath in STEP UP Phase 2 Training

ISUFST Admin Extension SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4

SAN ENRIQUE, ILOILO—Thirty-two guidance designates, teachers, and community wellness advocates of San Enrique capped the two-day STEP UP Phase 2–Module 3: Emotional Support & Psychological First Aid (PFA) seminar-workshop with a collective oath of commitment on February 27 at the Tourism Hall, Poblacion.

“I commit to recognize early signs of emotional distress and crisis in learners responding with calmness, sensitivity, and discernment.” The line, drawn from The STEP UP San Enrique Pledge 2, set the tone for the two-day training that would move participants from awareness to structured action.

The activity, conducted under the ISUFST–WVSU–LGU San Enrique partnership, trained participants to recognize emotional distress and crisis indicators, apply the WHO-aligned Look–Listen–Link model, provide immediate non-clinical support, and strengthen school referral systems, documentation, and confidentiality practices.

The two-year, 6-phase, 9-module STEP UP extension program, led by Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), is made possible through the strong institutional backing of ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr., West Visayas State University (WVSU) President Dr. Joselito Villaruz, and San Enrique Mayor Gian Carlo Niño Fernandez. The initiative is financed by the LGU of San Enrique through a municipal resolution enacted by the Sangguniang Bayan, affirming the town’s long-term investment in learner well-being. On behalf of Mayor Fernandez, the program is closely overseen by Dr. JJ Patubo with the assistance of DepEd wellness advocate Charmagne Paniza, who help ensure that the training translates into sustained school-level action.

Day 1 (Feb. 26) focused on first-response readiness. After an opening prayer and Phase 1 recap led by Mrs. Edeline Joy Acosta, participants began with an interactive “Signals of Stress” energizer facilitated by Dr. Herman Lagon, RGC, the STEP UP Extension Program Leader. The morning then moved to “Understanding Distress and Crisis Indicators,” delivered by Mrs. Junna Mari Pacardo, RGC, with case vignettes, helping participants name red flags and distinguish ordinary stress from warning signs that require immediate support or referral.

Dr. Lagon later delivered the Introduction to Psychological First Aid (Look–Listen–Link) through a guided lecture and demonstration, then led the PFA Skills Lab on “Look and Listen” using role-play scenarios that allowed participants to practice calming presence, active listening, and initial stabilization in school-based situations.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Pacardo facilitated a working-break workshop on Ethical Boundaries and Confidentiality, using case analysis to help guidance advocates clarify scope, privacy, and responsible decision-making. The day ended with a synthesis circle, “What Does Help Look Like?” led by Dr. Lagon, integrating lessons into practical first-response mindsets.

Day 2 (Feb. 27) shifted from skills to systems. Participant volunteers led the day’s prayer and recap, followed by a quick drill energizer, “Look–Listen–Link in Action,” facilitated by Dr. Lagon, to refresh coordination before referral planning.

WVSU speakers facilitated the core mid-morning sessions. Dr. Hilda Montaño, RGC, led the PFA Skills Lab on “Link” (Referral Pathways) through scenario-based group work that guided participants in choosing correct next steps for different levels of risk. Mrs. Gift Tragico, RGC, then handled Safety Planning Basics, walking participants through a template exercise that translated concern into concrete safety steps. Such was discussed further after lunch.

Later in the afternoon, the training then proceeded to Mapping the Local Referral Network, where participants drafted their localized referral directory anchored on existing municipal services and school protocols. Ms. Jennet Pajura, RGC, later led Documentation and Incident Reporting through hands-on form completion, emphasizing proper incident logs and responsible reporting. WVSU’s Prof. Jan Iris Fae Basbas, RGC, also served as one of the facilitators in the process.

All volunteer guidance counselors from ISUFST and WVSU then guided the working-break workshop on School-Based PFA Action Planning, followed by group presentations and peer feedback—ensuring outputs were school-ready, realistic, and aligned with ethics and confidentiality.

The two-day, phase 2, module 3 training concluded with the recitation and signing of “The STEP UP San Enrique Pledge 2,” where participants committed to early recognition of distress, faithful practice of Look–Listen–Link, ethical documentation, proper referral, advocacy for safer guidance spaces, continued learning, and self-care as helpers.

“I pledge to step up with empathy. I pledge to step up with integrity. I pledge to step up with courage and care,” the participants affirmed—marking the transition from training to shared responsibility for learner well-being in San Enrique schools.

With Phase 2 completed, ISUFST’S STEP UP initiative moves forward to Phase 3 on June 25–26, 2026, at the Tourism Hall in San Enrique. The next module will focus on Career Planning and Bullying Prevention—continuing the shared mission of helping learners find direction while protecting their dignity in safer school spaces. (PAMMCO)

February 14 2026

ISUFST Faculty and Staff join One Billion Rising Campaign

ISUFST Admin Gender and Development SDG 16, SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5

About fifty faculty and staff of the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) joined hundreds of participants at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand on February 13, 2026 for the annual One Billion Rising (OBR) campaign, a global movement calling for an end to violence against women and girls.

Wearing pink shirts, the ISUFST delegation from the different campuses took part in the morning program organized by the Ugsad Regional Gender Resource Network–Western Visayas, which gathered representatives from government agencies, academic institutions, civil society groups, and local communities. (Photos by Mila Bedia, Jennifer Mamerto, and Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)

October 31 2025

ISUFST, WVSU, and San Enrique Hold Inception Meeting for STEP UP Mental Health Project

ISUFST Admin Extension SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4

The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), in partnership with the West Visayas State University (WVSU) and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of San Enrique, held an inception meeting for the STEP UP Project on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the San Enrique Tourism Hall, San Enrique, Iloilo. The meeting formally set the direction for the two-year initiative designed to strengthen the municipality’s mental health and psychosocial support programs for teachers and professionals.

The gathering, hosted by the LGU of San Enrique through the town’s Tourism Office, brought together experts, educators, and local leaders for what ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. called “the first of many steps toward building a more caring and compassionate learning community.”

The STEP UP Project, short for San Enrique Training for Educators and Professionals in Uplifting Psychosocial Support, is an ISUFST-initiated program that aims to train guidance advocates and teachers in providing mental health and emotional support to students. Developed by ISUFST’s guidance and education team, the project invited WVSU’s College of Education as a partner to expand its pool of expert trainers and technical specialists in counseling and psychological first aid.

“STEP UP was born out of our desire to respond to the growing emotional and mental health needs in schools,” said Project Leader Dr. Herman M. Lagon, who designed the initiative. “We envisioned it as a bridge between expertise and empathy—where teachers, counselors, and local leaders work together to ensure that no learner is left unsupported.”

The inception meeting, which started at 10:30 a.m., gathered eight guidance counselors from WVSU, led by Dr. Amabel Tangco-Siason, Project Team Leader and creator of the Competent and Responsive Education (CaRE) toolkit, and former College of Education Dean Dr. Hilda Montaño. They were joined by Dr. Rejie F. Palmos, Dr. Baby Rose G. Robles, Prof. Jan Iris Faye M. Basbas, Prof. Gift D. Tragico, and Prof. Jennet F. Pajura.

Representing ISUFST were President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr., Guidance Counselors Dr. Imelda Arenga and Mrs. Junna Mari Pacardo, Psychometrician Mr. Dwight Deslate, and Guidance Advocate Ms. Nilbe Deocampo, together with San Enrique Extension Chair Dr. Regie Salmeron, Campus Administrator Dr. Rex Diaz, Prof. Glenn Dador, and faculty members.

The WVSU and ISUFST teams were welcomed by San Enrique Tourism Head Dr. JJ Patubo, who organized a cultural performance featuring the ISUFST Kalamay Festival Dancers and hosted a brief town museum tour and native good treats. “With this project, our dream that every San Enriquenhon can graduate from a university and become a well-grounded, productive citizen becomes more achievable,” Patubo said.

For WVSU Team Leader Dr. Amabel Siason, the meeting marked a meaningful milestone: “San Enrique is the first community to partner with us under this kind of advocacy. We are grateful to be part of this ‘historical first’ that goes back to the core of our mission—to make empathy, care, and mental health a shared responsibility.”

In his message, Dr. Nordy Siason emphasized that ISUFST’s role as project initiator reflects the university’s commitment to research-driven, community-based education. “Through STEP UP, we’re not only sharing knowledge—we’re empowering local educators and leaders to create safer, kinder, and more responsive schools,” he said.

Before the meeting, the WVSU team was welcomed at ISUFST Dingle Campus by Campus Administrator Dr. Dingras Balbona, Dean Ricardo Paborada, Jr., Dean Renante Diamante, faculty, and staff, including Guidance Counselor Ms. Roussel Justinn Esmeralda, before proceeding to San Enrique and the Tiwi Main Campus for lunch and fellowship with ISUFST officials.

The STEP UP Project, running through 2027, will equip guidance advocates across San Enrique’s schools with modules on psychological first aid, stress management, empathy building, and trauma-informed care, among others. Phase 1 (Module 1), focusing on Emotional Support and Psychological First Aid (PFA), is scheduled for October 27–28, 2025.

The initiative supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3—Good Health and Well-Being and 4—Quality Education, reflecting ISUFST’s dedication to inclusive, humane, and sustainable education. It is worth noting that the STEP UP project was officially launched on October 14, 2025, through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between ISUFST, represented by Dr. Siason, and the LGU of San Enrique, represented by Mayor Gian Carlo Niño P. Fernandez.

With ISUFST leading the initiative, WVSU providing guidance expertise, and the LGU ensuring local support, the STEP UP Project demonstrates how collaboration can turn compassion into concrete action—one school, one learner, and one community at a time. (Photos by LGU of San Enrique, Dwight Deslate, and RJ Patosa| PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufstcommunity #isufst #pammcostoriesthatmatter

October 16 2025

ISUFST and San Enrique Launch Three Quail Production, Vermicomposting, and Psychological First Aid Projects

ISUFST Admin Extension SDG 12, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8

SAN ENRIQUE, ILOILO — A partnership between the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) and the Municipal Government of San Enrique officially launched three major initiatives—the Vermipower Project, Chick to Egg Project, and STEP UP Project—on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Tourism Conference Hall in San Enrique, Iloilo. The collaboration, led by ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. and Mayor Gian Carlo Niño P. Fernandez, aims to strengthen local livelihoods, promote environmental sustainability, and enhance psychological wellness across the municipality.

The three projects—rooted in education, sustainability, and social responsibility—represent ISUFST’s mission to bring research-based solutions to communities in line with its guiding principles of integrity, social justice, discipline, and academic excellence.

The Vermipower Project, headed by Dr. Myrna P. Prudente, promotes organic waste management through vermicomposting education and technical support. It seeks to empower backyard and community gardeners by teaching sustainable composting practices that enrich soil and reduce household waste, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Meanwhile, the Chick to Egg Project, led by Instructor Rezeld P. Alarva, provides quail production training for farmers in San Enrique. The initiative aims to expand income-generating opportunities in the agricultural sector by integrating science-based methods in small-scale poultry production. It also contributes to SDG 2: Zero Hunger by supporting local food security and livelihood diversification. The third initiative, the STEP UP Project (San Enrique Training for Educators and Professionals in Uplifting Psychological Support), led by Dr. Herman M. Lagon, focuses on strengthening the mental health and psychosocial support capacities of teachers, guidance advocates, and community leaders. The two-year program provides training in counseling, stress management, and psychological first aid to enhance well-being in schools and communities, directly supporting SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 4: Quality Education. ISUFST President Dr. Siason emphasized that the partnership reflects the university’s continuing commitment to community development and local empowerment, expressing hope that the projects would later expand to other municipalities. Mayor Fernandez, for his part, underscored the importance of applying scientific approaches to farming and livelihood programs. He also noted that mental health advocacy is close to his heart, acknowledging that “everyone faces quiet battles,” and that having someone who listens “can make a big difference.”

Dr. Jose Patubo, San Enrique’s counterpart for the STEP UP Project, noted that the initiative will benefit all 21 elementary schools, one private school, and four national high schools in the municipality. He said the program, that also partners with DepEd and a team of mental health experts and advocates of WVSU College of Education, would concretely assist guidance designates, teachers, local health workers, and parents in supporting students’ mental and emotional well-being. The three projects signify ISUFST’s continuous mission to empower communities through education, innovation, and compassion—core values aligned with its vision to be a leading research university in fisheries, agriculture, education, and technology in Southeast Asia by 2030. (San Enrique Iloilo Tourism | Russel Yamit | PAMMCO) – collect sdgs

October 7 2025

ISUFST, Iloilo Governor Discuss Land Expansion for Proposed College of Nursing

ISUFST Admin Activities SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 9

ISUFST leaders, led by President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr., met with Iloilo Gov. Arthur R. Defensor Jr. and Vice Governor Nathalie Ann F. Debuque at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol on October 6, 2025, to discuss expanding ISUFST’s Main Campus-Poblacion Site to establish a College of Nursing. Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventilacion provided guidance as the parties map out terms, timelines, and funding considerations to move the project toward formal approval. This expansion aims to create closer, better-equipped facilities for nursing education and other courses, benefiting students, families, and the broader healthcare community. (RJ Patosa/PAMMCO)

September 8 2025

Four Students, One Mentor, and the Oyster’s Secret

ISUFST Admin Recognitions, Research SDG 14, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 8

On stormy days in Iloilo, when the sea looks restless and the shoreline brims with stories, four ISUFST students chose to chase answers hidden in the smallest of places—inside the gut of an oyster. For 20-year-olds Melody Vaughn Ferrer, Johnas Arellado, Romeo Theodore Golez, and Arlene May Linacero, what began as curiosity soon grew into the kind of work that could change lives, especially for the fisherfolk who depend on tilapia farming for survival. Together, with the quiet but steady mentorship of Prof. Jason Albances, they became a research team unlike any other.

Just days ago, they made history. Named Top 10 National Finalists in the BPI-DOST Innovation Awards, the young researchers secured ₱60,000 with the chance to turn it into ₱150,000 if they rise into the Top 3. For ISUFST, it is the first taste of national acclaim at this level and nature. For the students, it is fuel and validation rolled into one—evidence that an oyster-born idea from Iloilo can swim, and thrive, in national waters.

The Team Behind the Breakthrough

Their story is a grounded picture of ISDA in motion—research done with integrity, for social justice, through disciplined work, toward academic excellence.

Melody, a BFAR scholar from Guimaras, traced her passion to growing up close to the sea. “At first, I just wanted to help in research,” she said. “But along the way, I realized how much it fueled my drive to persevere and deepen my passion for discovery.” Her journey from high school science fairs to oyster-based probiotics reveals not just persistence but a love for science that mirrors the mission of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), the only fisheries university in the country, to raise globally competitive graduates who lead with responsibility.

Johnas, a third-year student from Anilao, Iloilo, admitted he wasn’t ready for research at first. But when he learned microbes from oysters might help fight fish disease, he was hooked. “The idea that something small could save you from creating this large change also delighted me,” he recalled with a soft smile. Outside the lab, he unwinds with music and his food and consumptive fish—proof his curiosity swims past textbooks into daily life.

For Romeo, the project was almost a calling. “The chance to study probiotics from oysters was something I never thought possible,” he said. Manga and anime may give him comfort after long days, but in the lab he became one of the group’s anchors. He repeated technical procedures tirelessly until they worked, his honesty about failures matched by his joy in every small success. That mix of grit and humility made him both steady worker and natural communicator—traits that soon earned him the role of the team’s buyer, marketer, and outside link.

Arlene, a BFAR and LGU coop scholar from Cabatuan, Iloilo, was drawn in by her love for freediving and swimming. “Being underwater connects me to the world we study,” she reflected. As the team’s organizer, she kept those late nights from going off the rails. “What I love is our balance—if one of us misses something, someone else calls it out.” It was she who first proposed probiotics as their research direction, setting the course for everything that followed.

What set this group apart was how their roles naturally complemented each other. Melody took on the less glamorous tasks—documentation, filing letters, cleaning up after experiments. “It’s the dirty work that keeps everything moving,” she joked. Johnas, the problem-solver, handled daily water changes and jury-rigged solutions when lab resources ran low. Romeo became the communicator, doing market surveys and purchases while still grinding through lab work. Arlene managed the group’s schedules and communication, never letting momentum stall. Each role was different, but together they made the research possible.

Setbacks, Support, and Small Wins

The sacrifices they poured into the study weren’t just late nights—they were entire seasons of their young lives. Melody remembers entering the lab at five in the morning and leaving near midnight, sometimes skipping meals just to record tilapia behavior. Johnas recalled the never-ending challenge of securing clean water, especially during weekends or holidays when supply was unreliable. Romeo spoke of equipment that wasn’t fit for their needs, forcing them to adapt. Arlene admitted she often pushed for extra experiments even when energy was low.

Their adviser, Prof. Albances, put it plainly: “I watched them trade sleep, meals, and weekends for this work. We lost three runs to contamination, ran out of clean water, made do with tools that weren’t built for us. Each time, they didn’t sulk—they changed the method and came back. That’s science: care and perseverance for a higher cause.”

For them, science wasn’t neat—it was chaotic, sleepless, and stubborn. “The worst part? Those marathon lab days—no lunch, no breaks,” Melody shared. “The best? That moment the data finally clicked and every hour felt worth it.” Romeo added, recalling when the oyster probiotics first checked the pathogen: “That tiny win kept us going.”

Even steady Arlene confessed to jitters. “I’m kinda confident, just trying not to jinx it.” She carried on, letting the results speak for themselves “The whole process really matters—it proves ISUFST can hold its own in fisheries research.”

Their adviser watched the grind and the glow-ups. “Seeing them after a failed experiment was the hardest,” Albances admitted. He’d ease the room with snacks some days, push harder on others—“kung gis-a, ga latigo ‘ko sa ila (sometimes, I have to ‘crack the whip,’)” he joked. No spoon-feeding, just guided grit. “Their edge is resilience. They kept finding ways to improve.”

It helped that ISUFST itself stood behind them. With the school’s biolab facilities, the students learned to maximize every resource, embodying the university’s guiding principle of empowerment. “Even if the facilities aren’t always perfect, the environment pushes us to innovate,” Arlene said. For Johnas, the experience confirmed his foundation: “ISUFST gave me not just aquaculture knowledge but the chance to do real research early.”

What made their achievement even sweeter was its history. For the first time ever, a group of ISUFST students broke into the top 10 of this national innovation competition. “They are making history for the college,” Albances proudly said. For him, their recognition proved that even as third years—who began this project as sophomores—they could stand shoulder to shoulder with students from more resource-rich universities.

Behind every trial was also a circle of support. Melody, a first-generation student, said her family’s faith gave her courage. Johnas admitted his strict but supportive parents, and especially his sister, pushed him to persevere. Romeo, coming from a family of teachers and seafarers, was grateful for a household that valued discipline and service. Arlene said simply, “My parents supported me all the way.” Beyond families, the school provided labs, vehicles, and even small comforts when needed. “All we asked for, the school supported,” Albances stressed.

Oyster Probiotics for Tilapia: Impact on Fisherfolk

The team’s study, anchored on samples from Brgy. Palaciawan in Barotac Nuevo, directly answered farmers’ questions: “How do we stop the disease?” Aeromonas shrugs off antibiotics, putting small tilapia farmers at risk. By using bay-ad (oysters) as a low-cost probiotic, the students proved science can come from local waters—not pricey imports. If scaled up, this could lower costs, protect fish stocks, and give stability to families whose survival hinges on aquaculture.

Their project drew funding from DOST–PCAARRD with Dr. Mary May Payne as special project head—and from ISUFST. They finished the study with a cost kept relatively manageable, thanks to school equipment and shared resources. The research, part of their undergraduate thesis, has already set the stage for further work. In December 2025, ISUFST professor Dr. Payne will accompany the team to present their full paper internationally, by which time Albances will already be in Japan at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology for his PhD studies. “The results are in place for presentation,” he confirmed, hinting at an even bigger stage ahead.

NFRDI and PCAARRD stand for National Fisheries Research and Development Institute and Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, respectively. While BPI, BFAR, and DOST mean Bank of the Philippine Islands, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Department of Science and Technology.

Why This Matters to Families

What makes their work remarkable is how it stretches beyond the lab. “It’s not just about fish,” Melody said. “It’s about the people who depend on them.” By finding a natural, oyster-based alternative to antibiotics, the team points to safer tilapia on the table, steadier incomes for fisherfolk, and healthier seas—right in step with SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and 14 (Life Below Water).

Romeo put it more plainly: “Our project can help a lot of small fish farmers by producing a natural way to reduce disease and boost fish health.” Johnas added, “This doesn’t just help aquaculture—it helps fisherfolk families whose livelihoods depend on it.” Arlene saw it as both livelihood and environmental protection: “It’s about supporting local communities through science.”

Looking ahead, each student carries not just dreams but lessons etched by the journey. Melody, an athlete before she was a researcher, learned that sacrifice is the price of discovery. Johnas discovered that asking for help is not weakness but strength. Romeo reflected that diligence and balance are vital: “Ask questions. The world promises more if you’re just keen to look for answers that solve problems for the marginalized.” Arlene distilled it into discipline: “Always manage your time, list the work, distribute it well—but never forget to rest.”

For Prof. Albances, the lesson was simple but profound: interest and grit can push students far beyond the curriculum. “They are only fresh third-years now, but they’ve learned so much more than what’s inside the classroom,” he said. He continues to give free Friday lectures to second-years, inviting them into the same journey. What began as a deal to help senior students in the lab grew into a culture of curiosity that, in his words, “can change futures.”

At its heart, this story is more than science—it’s possibility realized. When curiosity is tended, when resilience finds its moment, and when young scientists are trusted, change begins. The future of discovery lives not just in experiments but in the hands of dreamers, the tables of fisherfolk, and the steady guidance of teachers who let them soar.

“As a university, this directly advances the SDGs and affirms ISUFST’s leadership in marine science,” said Dr. Nordy Siason. “Four students and a mentor are walking away with more than data—they carry grit, service, and hope.”

He put it with a fisher’s plain wisdom and an ISUFST nod: “ISDA isn’t just fish—it’s our promise of shared progress. Care for the fish, feed families, strengthen communities. From an oyster’s gut to the nation’s tables—that’s how science should feed the future.” (Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)

September 5 2025

From Iloilo’s Shores to Taiwan’s Labs: The PhD Journey of Rhessa Grace Ortizo

ISUFST Admin International Affairs, Research SDG 12, SDG 14, SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 9

At first glance, Rhessa Grace Guanga Ortizo is every inch the scholar—31 years old, armed with fisheries degrees from UP Visayas, and fresh from completing her PhD at the National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (NKUST). But behind the credentials is someone more personal: a proud daughter of Iloilo, grounded in Dingle, who reads each lab notebook and classroom lecture as part of a story about kinship, community resilience, and building a nation.

“Iloilo is home,” she affirms, steady and sure. Its coastlines shaped her, its seas sustained her people, and its promise made fisheries feel like destiny. It wasn’t a sudden choice but a steady truth: Iloilo lives through its seas, and she wanted her work to help preserve that flow of life.

That truth found a home at ISUFST, the country’s pioneering fisheries university. Her mother, Tessie Ortizo, was a faculty member and former campus administrator in Dingle, gently nudging her daughter to plant her roots at the institution. “She introduced me to Dr. Noel Armada, who at that time was looking for someone with a post-harvest specialization,” Rhessa recalls. “From then on, ISUFST became my anchor—my colleagues at College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS), the students, and my own passion to teach and research kept me here.”

For CFAS Dean Rolindo Demo-os, Ortizo’s work captures the research path the college envisions. “Her studies reflect the kind of scholarship we aspire to—innovative, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the fisheries sector. By turning waste into value and knowledge into action, Dr. Ortizo shows the impact-driven research that strengthens ISUFST’s identity as the country’s pioneering fisheries university. At CFAS, our mantra is ‘We learn, we sustain,’ and her achievement is a living testament to that vision.”

ISUFST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga echoed this, saying Ortizo’s journey embodies what the university hopes for in its faculty: “She proves that when our scholars go out into the world, they don’t just earn degrees—they return with knowledge, values, and innovations that enrich ISUFST as a research university committed to serving communities.”

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲

The next chapter of her story came through a door that ISUFST had opened years before her: a memorandum of understanding with the then-National Kaohsiung Marine University, now NKUST. From that partnership came a scholarship program that she applied for online, with no assurance except faith and a fierce curiosity. “It was ISCOF [Iloilo State College of Fisheries], now ISUFST [Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology], that informed me of the scholarship. Without that connection, I wouldn’t have found myself in Kaohsiung.”

At NKUST’s College of Hydrosphere Science, Ortizo entered a world that blurred lab coats and global issues. She joined the seafood science research team under professors Dong and Tsai, and found herself handling not just microscopes and centrifuges but questions with global weight: how do we make aquaculture sustainable, waste productive, and food healthier?

Her dissertation might sound like a technical riddle, but its heartbeat is simple: she worked on turning fish visceral waste—yes, the guts often thrown away—into proteins and bioactive peptides that could help manage diabetes. “We used environmentally safe solvents to recover proteins and then convert them into peptides targeting DPP-IV inhibition,” she explains. In layman’s terms: fish guts as medicine.

Why does this matter? Because diabetes is rising globally, especially in the Philippines, where cheap yet safe treatments are desperately needed. While communities fight diabetes, our coastlines battle a different enemy—heaps of discarded fish byproducts that choke ecosystems. Rhessa’s study offers a rare double win, hitting the targets of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) in one stroke. It’s the circular economy at its most elegant: solving a human disease while reducing environmental waste.

Her research days in Kaohsiung were grueling—“coffee was your only fuel because missing one step in an assay could ruin the whole experiment”—but deeply rewarding. She mastered biotechnology tools like Western Blot, ELISA, and DNA sequencing, skills she plans to transfer to ISUFST’s fisheries labs. “The challenge is not just finishing a PhD. The challenge is how to bring home what I’ve learned and make it work in Iloilo,” she reflects.

And she will. Already, she has lined up projects back home: collagen extraction from fish byproducts, improving shrimp drying technologies in Banate Barotac Bay, and reviving her modules on post-harvest fisheries. “I want students to see research not as something abstract but as something they can hold, taste, and use in their communities.”

ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. adds a broader perspective: “Dr. Ortizo embodies what the university stands for—grounded in community, but global in vision. Her journey shows that world-class research doesn’t need to begin in big cities—it can start in Iloilo and still reach the world. She proves ISUFST’s mission isn’t just words, but a promise lived out.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲

Living in Taiwan reshaped her perspective. She was struck by how reliant the country was on aquaculture technology rather than wild catch—an echo of what Philippine fisheries might face in the near future. She also discovered how language could be both barrier and bridge. “Most of my labmates didn’t speak English. Instead of them teaching me Mandarin, I taught them English. Now they’re good English speakers,” she laughs.

But even abroad, she was never alone. “The Filipino community was very supportive. ISUFST also never left me behind, constantly encouraging me to finish on time,” she says, adding her gratitude to NKUST’s international student scholarship grant. She realized the PhD was never hers alone. It was a shared victory, lifted by family love, mentor wisdom, funder trust, and colleagues whose support crossed both time zones and borders.

Her balance came from lifting and running—two habits that spoke volumes. Lifting reminded her of the discipline in small, repeated steps; running mirrored the long, uncertain road of research. Both demanded grit, both required trust in the process, and both reminded her that every finish line leads to another race.

She has also presented her work on global stages, like at a conference in Hakodate, Japan, where feedback not only affirmed her research but stoked her fire to keep going. With all parts of her dissertation now published in SCIE and SCOPUS-indexed journals, she joins the growing league of ISUFST faculty whose names resonate beyond Philippine shores.

As she resumes her post at ISUFST, Ortizo is clear-eyed about the tasks ahead: strengthen labs, mentor students, publish more, and most importantly, extend her research to Western Visayas communities. “Technology transfer is the goal,” she insists. Her dream is to see local processors, not just scientists, benefit from innovations in fish waste valorization or shrimp drying. In her words, “Research that stays in papers is incomplete. Research must serve people.”

In the end, her journey is not just about a PhD earned in Taiwan. It is about a daughter of Iloilo carrying knowledge across seas, then planting it back in her community. It is about ISUFST proving, once again, that a university in the Visayas can hold its own in the global knowledge-based society. And it is about reminding every student that the gut of an oyster, or the waste of a tilapia, may hold solutions to humanity’s greatest problems—if only we dare to look closer. (Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)

August 29 2025

ISUFST’s Director Biñas Appointed as New RIMC Chair to Lead DSWD VI Monitoring Body

ISUFST Admin Extension, Recognitions SDG 1, SDG 10, SDG 16, SDG 17, SDG 3, SDG 4

Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) Extension Director Joana Paula B. Biñas has been elected as the new chairperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region VI’s Regional Independent Monitoring Committee (RIMC) during its 2nd Quarter Meeting held this week.

Biñas, who now represents the academe and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), succeeds Norma Chan-Pongan of CORE Philippines Inc. in the role. With members from NGOs and the academe, the RIMC provides independent monitoring of programs such as the 4Ps to improve delivery of services across Western Visayas.

Biñas stressed the importance of SUCs in this effort. “I am honored to be elected chairperson. SUCs have the duty to share research, expertise, and engagement to help programs like the 4Ps,” she said.

She noted that collaboration within the group will ensure the program adapts to family needs and lasts for the long term. “By combining the strengths of government agencies, SUCs, and communities, the 4Ps can further contribute to improving education, health, and livelihood, fostering a stronger and more inclusive nation,” Biñas emphasized.

Alongside Biñas, Joy De Pallo of Goducate–APIIS was elected as vice chairperson, while Daisy B. Ibieza of Guimaras State University will serve as secretary.

The committee also discussed the Regional Convergence Plan, updates on projects of Camp Goducate–Asia Pacific Institute of International Studies (APIIS), and preparations for the Regional Convergence Committee and RIMC Field Visit scheduled for October 2025.

ISUFST views Biñas’s election as RIMC chair as an extension of its commitment to community service, social responsibility, and inclusive nation-building. The role echoes the university’s VGMO and its alignment with SDG goals in education, health, and poverty reduction.

Over the next three years, she will lead efforts to make social welfare programs more transparent and effective for families. This recognition underscores ISUFST’s growing impact in both fisheries science and community empowerment. (Photos from DSWD VI/Text by Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)