SDG 9

December 16 2025

100 HEI Leaders from 28 Universities Take Oath to Advance Micro-Credentials

ISUFST Admin Activities SDG 10, SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9

Bacolod City—In a landmark moment for Philippine higher education, more than 100 university executives representing 28 higher education institutions (HEIs) across Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region stood together this Saturday, December 13, to take the “Micro-Credentials for the Future” Pledge of Commitment—a united response to CHED’s newly released CMO No. 1, Series of 2025, which formally introduces micro-credentialing as a national higher education strategy.

The oath-taking capped the two-day seminar-workshop on “Micro-Credentials for Academic Advancement: Strengthening Higher Education with a Global Perspective,” jointly organized by CHED Regional Offices VI and XVIII in partnership with the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) as co-organizer.

A Regional Response to a National Directive

With CMO 1 s. 2025 laying out the policy framework for micro-credentials in the Philippines, CHED RO VI and CHED RO XVIII convened the workshop as their first major regional initiative to help HEIs interpret, contextualize, and operationalize the newly mandated system. The activity also became one of the earliest regional embodiments of CHED’s newly launched ACHIEVE Agenda, the Commission’s 7-point higher education transformation roadmap for 2025–2030, which highlights Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning, Expanded Internationalization, and stronger, future-ready HEI systems.

The gathered university heads—vice presidents, deans, directors, department and program heads—took the historic pledge as a commitment to transform the national directive into concrete, localized programs for learners in their respective communities.

Before the oath, participants were reminded: “Micro-credentials are not trends or buzzwords. They are our response to the real needs of our communities—reminding us that learning must stay flexible, human, and accessible to those who depend on our institutions.”

With right hands raised, they declared in unison:

“We pledge our unity and commitment to lifelong learning.

We vow to uphold CHED’s vision, to design micro-credentials that empower learners, and to collaborate for excellence and innovation.

Together, we stand as catalysts of change for our students, our regions, and our nation.

We pledge. We commit. We shall fulfill.”

Day 1: Framework, Dialogue, and Design

The two-day workshop opened on December 12 with discussions led by micro-credentials expert Dr. Greg Pawilen, who outlined global models and emerging credentialing trends. ISUFST VPAA Dr. Joan M. Belga also shared “ISUFST’s Journey Toward Building Micro-Credential Ecosystems,” offering practical insights from the university’s early adoption efforts.

ISUFST resource speakers Dr. Stephen Raymund Jinon, Dr. Wenda Panes, and Dr. Herman Lagon capped the day with sessions on policy alignment, technology-driven design, and micro-credentialing for psychological first aid.

The day ended with HEIs drafting their own micro-credential proposals aligned with CMO 1 s. 2025—outputs presented on Day 2 for feedback and refinement.

Dr. Alvarez: “ISUFST is trailblazing”

During the afternoon program, CHED Region XVIII Director and former CHED Region VI Director Dr. Raul Alvarez expressed gratitude for ISUFST’s leadership. “ISUFST is truly trailblazing,” he said.

He also linked the regional workshop to CHED’s new ACHIEVE Agenda, emphasizing the ‘A’—Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning. “In our push for micro-credentials,” he said, “we are operationalizing what the ‘A’ in ACHIEVE stands for: advanced and accessible lifelong learning. This is not just a slogan. It is our responsibility. Every Filipino, regardless of age or circumstance, must have pathways to keep learning and improving.”

“We thank ISUFST for openly sharing its journey. When you go home, we hope you bring at least one concrete micro-credential idea that fits your school and community. Micro-credentials are something we have missed for a long time—learners need small, focused tasks that help them return to their fields more efficient and better prepared.”

He concluded: “Our job in higher education is to build competencies. Micro-credentials are one of the tools that will help us do exactly that.”

Day 2: Presentations and a Collective Promise

Day 2 continued with proposal presentations and collaborative critique. Chief Education Program Specialist Danebeth Narzoles of CHED RO VI reinforced another ACHIEVE pillar—the ‘E’ for Expanded and Impact-Driven Internationalization, noting how micro-credentials can help local HEIs enter global learning ecosystems through stackability, mobility, and cross-border recognition. She proudly highlighted that Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region recently ranked as the second runner up nationwide for Best Internationalization Initiative, a recognition she described as “proof that our regions are ready for global engagement.”

The final day centered on proposal sharing, collaborative critique, and validation. Facilitators said the process surfaced strong models and clarified shared challenges, giving schools clearer direction for implementation.

But it was the Pledge of Commitment that marked the workshop’s emotional and symbolic high point—signifying a unified regional movement toward flexible, stackable, skills-based learning aligned with ACHIEVE’s thrusts.

Strengthening CHED–ISUFST Synergy

ISUFST’s delegation—Dr. Belga, Dr. Jinon, Dr. Panes, Dr. Lagon, Dr. Joana Paula Biñas, Mr. Jonard Verdeflor, Dr. Michle Celeste, Dr. Michelle Bales, Mr. Dave Allan Tagacay, and Dr. Benjamin Cornelio Jr.—served as co-facilitators, technical leads, and secretariat support.

Coming shortly after the CHED–ISUFST Creative Works collaboration last October, this workshop signals deepening regional synergy in shaping higher education innovation.

As the two-day event closed, one belief resonated among all 28 universities present: Higher education must evolve with the times—but always remain rooted in the lived realities of the communities it serves.

(Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufstcommunity #isufst #pammcostoriesthatmatter

October 30 2025

37 Participating HEIs Hail CHED–ISUFST Creative Works Workshop as ‘Excellent’

ISUFST Admin Extension SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 9

Educators and administrators from 37 higher education institutions (HEIs) across Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region described the recent “Creating the Creatives: Global Pathways Seminar-Workshop” as “excellent,” “informative,” “timely,” and “worth repeating.” For many, it was not just a seminar, but a shared space where imagination, policy, and purpose met.

Held on October 27–28, 2025, at the Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo, the two-day activity was organized by the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VI (CHEDRO VI) in partnership with the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), the prime training-workshop discussant and facilitator. It aimed to guide HEIs in building and institutionalizing Creative Works Offices and frameworks that promote creativity as a pillar of academic excellence.

Participant feedback was predominantly favorable. The workshop was characterized as exemplary in every regard, receiving commendation for its integration of substantial subject with a casual, engaging dynamic. Many remarked that it was distinguished by its “well-organized, practical, and inspiring” nature—the type of training that remains beneficial long after its conclusion.

“The subject is highly pertinent and opportune,” one participant noted. One participant said that the workshops were “beneficial in establishing our university’s creative work office,” while others emphasized that the discussions “stimulated ideas on policy integration and inter-campus collaboration.”

Several participants, although acknowledging the efficient arrangement, proposed extended sessions and additional time for practical workshops, underscoring the necessity for subsequent conversations centered on innovation, documentation, and networking across higher education institutions.

Participants characterized the encounter as “inspiring” and “motivating,” beyond just numerical data. Many expressed that the event highlighted the necessity of creativity beyond art studios and literary classes, extending into research, governance, and community engagement.

In the end, the feedback reflected a unified call: to continue what CHED and ISUFST have started—a collective inter-HEIs movement to make creativity not an afterthought but an essential force in higher education. (PAMMCO | UCWO)

The signing capped the two-day “Creating the Creatives: Global Pathways Seminar-Workshop on Pioneering Creative Works Anchored on the SDGs for Internationalization,” organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and co-hosted by the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST).

Across two days, the seminar came alive with ideas, artistry, and collaboration. On Day 1, CHEDRO VI Director Raul Alvarez Jr. called for creative leadership in education, followed by ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr., who urged schools to turn imagination into innovation. UPV’s Prof. Martin Genodepa deepened the discourse, affirming that creativity belongs at the heart of academic excellence. Sessions led by Dr. Edmer Bernardo on creative mandates, Prof. Michele Celeste on policy practice, Dr. Herman Lagon on creative governance, Ms. Marianne Bebit on intellectual property, and Dr. Rex Paulino on quality and assessment built the event’s foundation. Workshops followed after the talks of Lagon and Paulino, while poetry, photography, and music performances from ISUFST faculty added soul, transforming discussions into a celebration of imagination in motion.

Day 2 turned inspiration into action. Dr. Stephen Jinon advanced the conversation on SDG-driven creativity coupled with a roadmap workshop, while Prof. Noel Galon De Leon of Kasingkasing Press called on HEIs to make publishing a form of cultural renewal. Dr. Ma. Asuncion Christine Dequilla of WVSU later shared a heartfelt reflection on how creativity and research intertwined across sessions, followed by the symbolic signing of the manifesto—a collective promise to place creativity at the center of learning, governance, and growth.

Titled “Building the Blueprint for Creative Works Excellence in Higher Education Institutions,” the pledge commits HEIs to champion innovation, integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promote internationalization, uphold creative standards, share best practices, and empower the next generation of creators.

As representatives from across Panay, Negros, Guimaras, and Siquijor took turns signing the document, the hall fell silent—a collective pause before the applause.

“This is more than a signing. It’s a declaration that higher education will no longer treat creativity as a side note,” said CHEDRO VI Director Raul C. Alvarez Jr. “Creativity must be at the core of excellence, equity, and innovation.”

ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr. called the pledge “a creative covenant.”

“Creativity is not decoration—it is direction, conviction, and collaboration,” he said. “What we signed today is more than a document; it is a dream stitched together by imagination and shared purpose. We are deeply grateful to CHED Region VI for believing in ISUFST’s creative works initiative and for helping us prove that creativity, guided by vision and heart, can move institutions toward genuine transformation.”

Dr. Danebeth Narzoles, CHEDRO VI Chief Education Program Specialist, closed the program by lauding the collaboration.

“The HEIs of Regions VI and XVIII have shown that creativity thrives when shared. This manifesto will serve as our compass as we build globally competitive yet locally rooted institutions.”

The two-day gathering transformed what began as a workshop into a movement. Panels turned into pledges, lectures into partnerships, and ideas into concrete roadmaps for creative excellence. When the closing photo was taken—rows of educators smiling as one Visayas—it captured not just success, but solidarity.

As participants departed, the words of Prof. Martin Genodepa lingered: “Creative work is central to academic excellence so that creativity can flourish at the very heart of our universities.”

For ISUFST, CHED, and every institution that signed the pledge, that heart now beats stronger—in every artwork, policy, and classroom born from the courage to create. (Photos by Leo Paparon and Benjamin Cornelio Jr. | Text by Herman M. Lagon | UCWO | PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #ISUFSTCommunity #PAMMCOStoriesThatMatter #CreatingTheCreatives #CHED #UCWO #RegionVI #RegionXVIII

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 11 2025

ISUFST Researcher Bags 2nd Place in RSTW 2025 Pitching Event

ISUFST Admin Recognitions, Research SDG 12, SDG 17, SDG 2, SDG 8, SDG 9

Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) researcher Instructor Jessa Alico and her team secured Second Place in the Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) Pitching Session 2025 held yesterday, September 10, at Robinsons Roxas, Capiz, with their innovation Auto-OMP (Automated Oyster Mushroom Production).

The award-winning research, developed by ISUFST’s College of Agriculture in partnership with the College of Computer Studies, was led and presented by Instr. Alico with co-researchers Instr. Rezeld Alarva, Instr. Dave Allan Tagacay, and Engr. Katherine Padilla. The team is developing an automated system that takes the fuss out of mushroom farming so communities and agri firms can raise yields, reduce losses, and grow income in a sustainable way. It hopes to respond to what farmers face on the ground and to the push for resilient, inclusive, sustainable practices.

“Our technology was inspired by a reverse pitching event where I realized automation could help solve major challenges in mushroom production,” Alico said, adding, “After the event, I collaborated with IT colleagues to bring the idea to life. It wasn’t easy, but we pushed through because we believe this tech can greatly benefit both the community and education.” Armed with the hope to serve not just agricultural students but also the wider community, she intimated that the team’s next steps are “to protect the technology and conduct thorough testing, with the hope that by 2029, farmers can already begin using it.”

Organized through RAISE Tech Ventures 2025, the pitching event gathered 14 universities alongside government agencies across Region VI. It culminated in the presentation of research innovations after a series of capacity-building sessions hosted at the University of the Philippines Visayas–Miagao, University of Antique, Iloilo Science and Technology University, and Capiz State University.

Central Philippine University (CPU) placed first, while Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) placed third. Certificates and cash prizes celebrated their research-powered solutions and the teams behind them.

As DOST Region VI puts it, RSTW 2025’s theme—“Siyensya, Teknolohiya at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Kinabukasan”—shows how science can lift neighborhoods now and make them more resilient for the future. “Events like this connect innovation to adoption, and adoption to economic growth,” said DOST-VI Regional Director and member of the Board of Regents of ISUFST, Engr. Rowen Gelonga.

Auto-OMP advances UN goals where it counts: food security under SDG 2, agripreneurship and jobs under SDG 8, and sustainable production under SDG 12. ISUFST, the country’s only state fisheries university, is steadily building SDG-aligned work into classes, labs, and outreach—part of its roadmap to be a top Southeast Asian research university by 2030.

The achievement of Alico and her team join a string of ISUFST honors in research, global linkages, and community programs, strengthening its promise to deliver solutions that help small businesses and barangays thrive. (Photo credit is given to COAG ISUFST San Enrique/Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)

#isufstisdafirst #isufstcommunity #isufst #pammcostoriesthatmatter

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 4 2025

Davao del Sur State College Conducts Benchmarking Visit to ISUFST for University Conversion Goals

ISUFST Admin International Affairs, Recognitions SDG 16, SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 9

BAROTAC NUEVO, ILOILO (August 4, 2025)—The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) welcomed nine key officials from Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) for a one-day benchmarking visit at its Main Campus–Tiwi Site, a significant step in DSSC’s preparations for its planned university conversion in 2028.

Spearheading the DSSC delegation was Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Siverlyn Camposano, accompanied by Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Luciano Nasibog, Jr. The team was warmly received by ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga, Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Jonny Dolor, and university officials from various academic and administrative sectors.

The exchange was more than a formal visit—it was a full-circle immersion. After hours in the conference room for the orientation, presentations, and Q&A session, the DSSC delegation visited ISUFST’s key spaces—from offices to labs, classrooms to museum—and had solid sit-downs with unit heads. They exchanged ideas, shared challenges, and dove into topics like governance and documentation, finding the conversation both honest and inspiring.

DSSC VPAA Dr. Camposano shared that learning about ISUFST’s journey and the behind-the-scenes efforts that led to its university conversion gave their team both clarity and inspiration. She noted that they witnessed more than just documents and policies—they saw the people and systems that truly brought the vision to life.

ISUFST’s journey from being Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF) to achieving full university status on January 10, 2023, served as the roadmap DSSC came to learn from. Now with campuses and sites in Barotac Nuevo, Dingle, Dumangas, and San Enrique, ISUFST stands as the country’s only fisheries university.

VPAA Dr. Belga described the visit as a moment of shared growth. “It’s rare to have a conversation that’s both technical and heartwarming,” she said. “We’re happy to walk with DSSC in this journey—not as experts, but as fellow educators strengthening our institutions together.”

ISUFST President Dr. Siason, Jr., echoed this, saying that meaningful exchanges like these help build a stronger culture of collaboration and nation-building in higher education. He quickly shared that ISUFST’s own transition was the result of years of planning, community engagement, and meeting CHED’s standards. “It wasn’t easy,” he said, “but it was worth it.”

DSSC’s benchmarking activity is rooted in the requirements of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for university conversion. Institutions must show institutional maturity, competent leadership, strong faculty profiles, adequate libraries and infrastructure, research productivity, impact of international linkages, and meaningful community engagement. CHED also requires strict compliance with its orders and a demonstrated commitment to continuous quality improvement.

This visit is part of DSSC’s bigger plan to prepare for university hood. After ISUFST, they are also set to visit West Visayas State University for another round of learning. As both schools shared during the wrap-up, it was more than just a compliance check—it was about culture, leadership, networking, and the everyday work of building futures through education. (Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)

July 11 2025

Charting a Course with AIMS and MARINA

ISUFST Admin International Affairs SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9

ISUFST’s BSMT Program team visited the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies (AIMS) Pasay and MARINA Port Area this July 10–11, 2025, as part of its ongoing benchmarking for the program’s planned revival. Guided by Chief Mate and former ISCOF Dean Dr. Edgardo Geguiento, the team explored key facilities and held dialogues with AIMS leaders and maritime education experts. The Marina encounter was also filled with insights needed for the fulfillment of the team’s marching orders. The visit marks a vital step in aligning ISUFST’s future maritime transportation offering with national standards and global best practices. (Sheila Picpican/PAMMCO)

July 8 2025

ISUFST to Endorse BSMT Program Revival to BOR for AY 2026–2027

ISUFST Admin Activities SDG 10, SDG 17, SDG 4, SDG 8, SDG 9

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)