ILOILO – The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) is set to break new ground by offering the first-ever Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program in northern Iloilo, as it moves closer to securing approval from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
A CHED team, led by Dr. Arnold John Anceno, Education Supervisor II of CHED Region 6, conducted a technical assistance visit at ISUFST’s Main Campus–Poblacion Site in Barotac Nuevo on July 28. The evaluation assessed the university’s preparedness for the BSN program, which is targeted for launch in the first semester of Academic Year 2026–2027.
“With strong planning and clear alignment with CHED’s guidelines, ISUFST is in a promising spot,” Anceno said, adding that he is hopeful the BSN program will gain approval by next year.
During the visit, Dr. Anceno reviewed program documents and inspected planned facilities, including amphitheaters and mock hospitals crucial for nursing training. ISUFST plans to retrofit its College of Education (CoEd) and College of Industrial Technology (CIT) buildings to house the new College of Nursing. CoEd and CIT students will be relocated to the Tiwi Site of the Main Campus by AY 2026–2027 to facilitate the transition.
ISUFST president Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., who requested CHED’s guidance following a previously postponed schedule due to bad weather, stressed the program’s broader purpose.
“This is more than an institutional expansion — it’s a mission to provide community-responsive, accessible nursing education in northern Iloilo,” he said. “We want to produce future nurses who are deeply grounded in service and competence.”
The BSN program, supported by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) national president Dr. Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte, aims to address the pressing need for localized nursing education.
To guarantee quality clinical training, ISUFST is forging partnerships with Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center, Iloilo Provincial Hospital, Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital, and Asia Pacific Medical Center–Iloilo for Related Learning Experiences (RLE).
ISUFST also held a stakeholder consultation on July 15 to craft the program’s Vision, Goals, Mission, and Objectives (VGMO), involving local government units, barangay health workers, alumni, students, and parents.
“We are aligning every step with CHED standards, but we are also staying true to ISUFST’s brand of quality education—rooted in local context and driven by global relevance,” said Dr. Joan Belga, vice president for Academic Affairs.
Armed with its ISO 9001:2015 certification, AACCUP accreditations, and recent CHED awards for excellence in community extension, internationalization, and Indigenous Peoples education, ISUFST is confident in its COPC application. Admission to the BSN program is expected to open by late AY 2025–2026, pending final CHED approval.
Founded in 1957, ISUFST is the country’s only state university dedicated to fisheries, offering 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs across five campuses to over 8,500 students. The proposed BSN program marks a significant expansion into high-demand healthcare sectors aligned with the Philippine Development Plan and Sustainable Development Goals./PN
