BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo — A new academic landmark is now rising at Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) Main Campus–Tiwi Site as construction begins on the University Learning Resource Center (ULRC), a state-of-the-art two-story library designed to serve both students and the wider Iloilo community.
Positioned as Point 1 of the university’s ambitious ₱270-million Fisheries Learning Complex, the ULRC will serve as the intellectual gateway to what ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr. describes as “a legacy of learning rooted in fisheries identity and future-ready innovation.”
On the first floor, students will find a welcoming study haven—cool, comfortable, and connected. Upstairs, the design becomes even more human: shared tables for teamwork, digital tools for research, and quiet rooms for prayer or rest. It’s a space that understands students are not just learners—but whole persons preparing for the future.
A community-accessible gate will also be constructed, ensuring that the facility is not limited to ISUFSTians but opens its doors to learners across the Fourth Congressional District and the Province of Iloilo.
The landmark facility is made possible through an initial ₱22.5-million investment from the Office of the Fourth Congressional District of Iloilo under Congressman Ferjenel Biron, a sitting member of the ISUFST Board of Regents and principal author of the university conversion of ISUFST.
“This is more than infrastructure,” Dr. Siason shared. “It is about building spaces where ideas grow, research deepens, and communities connect.”
CONNECTED LEARNING SPACES
The ULRC will connect via a ramp to Point 2: Monfort Hall, which is slated for renovation. Once completed, Monfort Hall will house journal archives and a digital laboratory—quiet, focused corners designed for advanced research and academic discovery.
Together, the ULRC and Monfort Hall strengthen ISUFST’s vision of an integrated “Tour Trail” learning ecosystem, where infrastructure supports instruction, innovation, and community engagement.
ON MARITIME BUILDING RETROFITTING
Parallel to these developments, ISUFST also confirmed that the planned retrofitting of the former University Library building into the College of Maritime Studies (COMS) facility is a separate and independent project.
Designed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in collaboration with the ISUFST Planning, Development, and Auxiliary Services (PDAS) Office and COMS—through the initiative of Congressman Biron—the project involves improving and adapting an existing structure, not constructing a new one.
University officials emphasized that this retrofitting is not part of the ₱270-million Fisheries Complex. However, in the long term, maritime infrastructure expansion may be integrated into the broader development framework should maritime programs receive formal go-signal and regulatory approval from CHED and MARINA.
A LEGACY IN MOTION
ISUFST occupies a rare space in Philippine higher education—the only state university wholly dedicated to fisheries. Here, marine science, technology, and maritime studies are not separate disciplines but threads woven into one identity.
The campus itself reflects this transformation. Research centers, laboratories, processing plants, and soon, a marine museum—each building shaping the next generation of thinkers and doers.
Though young as a university, ISUFST stands on 68 years of public education legacy. With more than 8,000 students across five campuses and sites, it continues to expand with integrity and purpose.
The rising ULRC is more than steel and glass. It is a symbol of a university that dares to build boldly while staying rooted in service. (Herman Lagon | PAMMCO)
