ISCOF has new president

Dr. Nordy Siason Jr. was elected as the 9^th president of Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF) on Friday, Feb 4, 2022.

Dr. Siason took his oath before Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera right after his election by the Board of Trustees at the Courtyard by Marriott in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

Before his election to ISCOF’s helm, Siason also served as principal of the Iloilo National High School, assistant schools division superintendent of Iloilo province and schools division superintendent of Guimaras.

He took over from Engr. Godelyn Gallega-Hisole, who is the former dean of the Electronics and Communication Engineering and Electrical Engineering Department of the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology.

Siason told Daily Guardian that he will strive to improve the state university’s curriculum, services, and facilities during his term.

Based on its official website, ISCOF traces its existence to the conversion of Barotac Nuevo High School (BNHS) into a national school of fisheries known as Central Iloilo National School of Fisheries (CINSOF) via Republic Act 1925 authored by then Congressman Ricardo Y. Ladrido.

In 1961, the late Don Juan Paranpan donated a lot in Tiwi, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, and broadened the school’s scope of curricular offerings to include collegiate courses.

CINSOF was later converted into Iloilo National School of Fisheries and later to Iloilo Regional School of Fisheries (IRSF).

In 1971, the school began offering Bachelor of Science in Fishery Education (BSFED), with Dr. Elpidio M. Icamina as superintendent. In 1975, the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries, with majors in Marine Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, and Fish Processing Technology, was offered.

As it continued to expand its course offerings, IRSF was converted into the Iloilo State College of Fisheries via Presidential Decree 1523 issued on June 11, 1978, the first and only state college of fisheries in the country.

Former Iloilo 4th district congressman Ferjenel G. Biron later sponsored the House bill that led to the enactment and signing into law of Republic Act No. 10604 which upgraded ISCOF into a State University.

Aside from its main campus in Barotac Nuevo, ISCOF has campuses in the towns of Dingle, Dumangas, and San Enrique.