ISUFST ranks third in 2026 fisheries board exam

BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) ranked third among the country’s top-performing schools in the 2026 fisheries board examination after 45 of its 52 examinees passed.

The result gave ISUFST an 86.54% passing rate, while one of its graduates also landed in the national Top 10.

The Professional Regulation Commission ranking covers schools with at least 30 examinees and an 80% passing rate.

UP Visayas placed first with all 46 examinees passing, followed by Central Luzon State University with 28 of 32 passers, or 87.50%.

ISUFST’s performance was well above the 69.05% national passing rate.

Nationwide, 1,816 of 2,630 examinees passed the Oct. 1-2 examination, with the PRC releasing the results Oct. 6.

Adding to ISUFST’s performance was Brent Terucha Samontanes of the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (CFAS), who tied for ninth place nationwide with a rating of 87.50%.

Samontanes was among the Western Visayas graduates who figured prominently in this year’s national Top 10.

His achievement adds another name to a fisheries tradition that dates to the years when the university was still known as the Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF).

For nearly two decades, graduates of its fisheries program have repeatedly landed in the national Top 10.

Among them were Robin P. Escriba, ninth in 2007; Marjorie C. Alojado-Villanueva, seventh in 2011; and Karen D. Barsales, seventh in 2015.

Jomel S. Limbago placed fourth and Bherra Grace B. Bontigao 10th in 2017.

Regino R. Regpala placed fifth, Ma. Concepcion S. Sibonga seventh and Marivic S. Besen ninth in 2018.

Rico Ian D. To-ong placed second and Robinson S. Amihan Jr. third in 2019.

The record continued in 2022, when Jean Margaret G. Badong topped the examination nationwide with an 86.25% rating and Ferla Pearl O. Palomar placed 10th with 83.75%.

Vanica P. Boglosa followed with a third-place finish in 2023, while Aivie Seterra Padohinog ranked 10th in 2024.

In 2025, Leslie Kate T. Macaling and Andrei Von T. Villarin both placed eighth nationwide, each with a rating of 89.00%.

ISUFST later awarded each of them a PHP 50,000 incentive in recognition of the achievement.

Samontanes, at ninth place in 2026, is the latest graduate to join that roster.

The results carry particular significance for an institution whose history is closely tied to fisheries education.

ISUFST’s fisheries program has been recognized as a Commission on Higher Education Center of Development in Fisheries.

This year’s combination of 45 new licensed fisheries professionals, a national topnotcher and a third-place institutional finish provides another measure of that continuing tradition.

That tradition also includes former topnotchers and CFAS faculty members helping prepare succeeding batches of examinees.

During Padohinog’s 2024 review, for instance, 2019 second placer Prof. Rico To-ong conducted free evening sessions, while former topnotchers Jean Margaret Badong and Vanica Boglosa shared advice and encouragement.

The practice continues across batches, often through free reviews at Paler Hall, where faculty members and past achievers share lessons, strategies and experience with future examinees.

For ISUFST President Dr. Nordy D. Siason Jr., the third-place national ranking is especially meaningful because it reflects the collective performance of the batch and the support of faculty members and parents.

“Being ranked third among the country’s top-performing schools tells us that our fisheries education continues to deliver where it matters most—in the preparation of our graduates. We celebrate our topnotcher, but we are equally proud of all 45 new fisheries professionals and the faculty members and their parents who helped and supported them reach this point,” Siason said. (Herman Lagon | Rolindo Demo-os Jr. | PAMMCO)