CHED official backs ISUFST’s proposed BS nursing program

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) visited the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) on Monday, July 28, 2025, to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, targeted to launch in the first semester of Academic Year 2026–2027 at the ISUFST Main Campus–Poblacion Site in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

Dr. Arnold John Anceno, education supervisor II of CHED Regional Office 6, led the technical assistance visit held at the CICT Conference Room.

The assessment focused on ISUFST’s program proposal and its initial compliance with CHED’s Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) requirements.

With strong planning and clear alignment with CHED guidelines, ISUFST is in a promising position, said Dr. Anceno, a licensed physician.

He expressed optimism that the BSN program will gain approval by next year.

During the visit, Dr. Anceno reviewed key documents and toured proposed facilities such as amphitheaters and mock hospitals, which are essential for nursing training.

To support the new program, ISUFST plans to retrofit its College of Education (CoEd) and College of Industrial Technology (CIT) buildings at the Poblacion Site to serve as the future home of the College of Nursing.

Current CoEd and CIT students will be relocated to the Tiwi Site of the Main Campus starting AY 2026–2027 to accommodate the transition.

The visit followed a formal request from ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason Jr., after a previously scheduled visit was postponed due to bad weather.

In his request, Dr. Siason stressed the importance of CHED’s guidance during the university’s COPC application process.

“This is more than an institutional expansion — it’s a mission to provide community-responsive, accessible nursing education in northern Iloilo,” Dr. Siason said.

“We want to produce future nurses who are deeply grounded in service and competence.”

The proposed BSN program is the first of its kind to be offered outside Iloilo City in the northern part of the province.

Earlier, ISUFST consulted with Philippine Nurses Association National President Dr. Rosana Grace Belo-Delariarte, who expressed strong support for the initiative, citing the urgent need for localized nursing education in underserved areas.

To ensure program quality, ISUFST is pursuing partnerships with several regional hospitals — including Don Jose S. Monfort Medical Center, Iloilo Provincial Hospital, Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital and Asia Pacific Medical Center–Iloilo — for clinical training and Related Learning Experiences (RLE).

The university also held a stakeholder consultation on July 15 to define the BSN program’s Vision, Mission, Goals and Objectives (VMGO), engaging local government units, barangay health workers, alumni, students and parents.

ISUFST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga said the university is now coordinating benchmarking visits and faculty recruitment to meet program and compliance requirements.

“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,” Dr. Belga said.

With the COPC application process underway, ISUFST remains optimistic, supported by its ISO 9001:2015 certification, AACCUP accreditations and recent CHED awards for excellence in community extension, internationalization and Indigenous Peoples education.

Founded in 1957, ISUFST is the country’s first and only state university specializing in fisheries.

It currently offers 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs across five campuses, serving more than 8,500 students.

The planned BSN program is part of the university’s strategic expansion into high-demand sectors identified in the Philippine Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Admission to the BSN program is expected to open in the latter part of AY 2025–2026, pending CHED approval.

Updates will be posted on ISUFST’s official platforms.