ISUFST climbs to 889th in global sustainability ranking

BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology has climbed in the UI GreenMetric World University Rankings 2026, rising from 1,102nd worldwide last year to 889th this year among 2,016 participating institutions from 110 countries.

ISUFST also improved its standing in the Philippines, moving from 57th to 48th among 130 participating universities.

In Western Visayas, ISUFST climbed from third to second, behind West Visayas State University, marking gains at the global, national and regional levels in only its second year in the ranking.

For ISUFST President Nordy D. Siason Jr., the improvement is something the university community can share.

“Moving up in the rankings is something we can celebrate, but what matters more is what these numbers represent—the everyday work happening across our campuses and communities,” Siason said.

“This did not come from one big project or one office alone. It came from people across the University doing their share—saving resources, caring for the environment, strengthening research and teaching, and working with communities.”

“There is still much we can do better, but this progress shows that those efforts are beginning to add up.”

The 2026 results build on ISUFST’s first participation in UI GreenMetric in 2025, when it ranked 1,102nd among 1,745 institutions worldwide and third in Western Visayas.

UI GreenMetric evaluates university sustainability policies and performance across seven categories: setting and infrastructure, energy and climate change, waste, water, transportation, education and research, and governance and digitalization.

Governance and digitalization was added as a new category for the 2026 rankings, expanding the previous six-category framework.

Behind the ranking were months of less visible work involving the gathering of records, checking of data, coordination across campuses and documentation of initiatives.

On June 22, ISUFST’s Technical Working Group, General Secretariat, campus representatives and student leadership met for the UI GreenMetric Sustainable University Rankings 2026 preparations to consolidate the required information.

The Technical Working Group was composed of Dr. Edmer Bernardo, Dr. Dingras Balbona, Dr. Liza D. Belandres, Dr. Rex Paulino, Dr. Jeanette Bayona and instructor Jonard Verdeflor.

The General Secretariat was led by Dr. Johnny B. Dolor, with instructors Bonifacio S. Zamora Jr. and John Christian Salarza from the Main Campus-Poblacion Site.

Dr. Benjamin L. Cornelio, Prof. Valyn V. Dayandayan-Maestre and instructor Leo V. Paparon represented the Main Campus-Tiwi Site.

Instructor Ernie D. Pedregosa represented Dingle Campus, while instructors Kenth Mark A. Salcedo and Russel M. Yamit represented Dumangas Campus.

Prof. John Niño V. Crauz, adviser of the University Student Council, was also part of the team representing San Enrique Campus.

The work behind the ranking extended beyond documents and data tables to sustainability initiatives across ISUFST involving mangrove and coastal conservation, community-managed marine areas, environmental education and research, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and partnerships with fishing and farming communities.

The Agri-Ecotourism Farm in Bongloy at Dingle Campus is one example, combining agriculture, livelihood, environmental learning and community engagement.

For ISUFST, such programs are closely connected to its identity as a university rooted in fisheries and agriculture and serving communities whose livelihoods depend heavily on natural resources.

The stronger GreenMetric showing also adds to ISUFST’s growing internationalization efforts.

In recent years, the university has entered the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, received its first Commission on Higher Education Internationalization Champions of Nation-Building and Sustainability Award, and debuted in the 2026 World University Rankings for Innovation with eight Global Top 100 placements.

Its WURI results included seventh place in Social Impact through Knowledge Transfer, along with seven other Top 100 finishes across innovation categories.

ISUFST has also expanded international partnerships, mobility programs, collaborative research and sustainability initiatives.

For Siason, however, rankings are most useful when they encourage the university to assess its progress and remaining challenges.

“Rankings give us a way to see our progress, but they should also remind us of the work still ahead,” he said.

“Our goal is not sustainability for the sake of recognition. We want our students to grow up seeing sustainability as part of everyday university life, learn from what they see, and bring those habits and values wherever they eventually serve.”

The improvement amounted to 213 places worldwide, from 1,102nd to 889th, nine places in the Philippines and one position in Western Visayas.

The gains came only a year after ISUFST made its GreenMetric debut.

Behind the rankings are faculty, staff, students and communities involved in conserving resources, improving waste management, conducting research, protecting coastal environments, developing campuses and working with partner communities.

Siason said these collective efforts make the achievement worth celebrating.

“We are grateful to everyone who helped us get here—our faculty, staff, students, campus teams, partners, and communities,” he said.

“This recognition belongs to all of them. Let us enjoy this milestone, but let it also encourage us to keep going.”

“Sustainability is not something we accomplish once. It is something we continue to work on together. It is something we choose and practice every day.”

A year after its GreenMetric debut, ISUFST is seeing measurable gains from sustainability efforts across its campuses and partner communities.

The university said the next challenge is to translate those gains into greener campuses, stronger partnerships and better service to communities. (Jonard Verdeflor | Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)