Guimaras State University

The Buenavista Vocational School, around which the Guimaras State University eventually grew, was founded under the provision of Republic Act 3933 in 1964 with Representative Rodolfo Tiamson Ganzon of the Second District of Iloilo as the leading sponsor of the bill.

The hard work of many local officials starting with Hon. Tomas Junco, who backed a resolution to persuade the legislature to establish a vocational school in Buenavista, led up to the creation of BVS when RA 3933 was passed on June 18, 1964. Representative Fermin “Nene” Zarandin Caram of the Lone District of Iloilo City made an effort for the implementation of the law. Four years later, through the efforts of lawyer Ernesto G. Gaduyon and Iloilo governor Abelardo D. Javellana, the philanthropist-lawyer Juan Z. Salvador, Jr. bestowed a 12.36-acre lot taken away from his lands in Barangay McLain, Buenavista, Guimaras, to be the school site. This significant bequest led the school to honor him by taking his name to refer to the main University grounds.

In 1980, the school was approved of offering post-secondary courses. The two-year trade technical and technology courses opened the door to the offering of higher education courses, which are either terminal or ladderized (a new system of education in the Philippines that allows learners to progress between Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and college, and vice versa). In 1992, the year Guimaras was proclaimed as a regular and full-fledged province, the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council) of Buenavista passed a resolution requesting Representative Alberto “Albertito” Javellana Lopez of the Second District of Iloilo to put his back for the conversion of BVS to Guimaras Polytechnic College.

In July 1994, Representative Lopez filed House Bill 6252, in Congress, seeking the conversion of the BVS into a polytechnic college. On March 3, 1995, President Fidel V. Ramos signed Republic Act 7944 into law, showing out the conversion of Buenavista Vocational School into Guimaras Polytechnic College, which would offer general secondary curriculum, professional, technological courses.

In June 2000, a consultation and public hearing on House Bills 7382 and 5807 sponsored by Representative Emily Relucio-Lopez of the Lone District of Guimaras was organized at the GPC Function Room. With 179 listed participants from public and private sectors in attendance, all sectoral representatives expressed full support for the conversion of GPC, Buenavista and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST)–Guimaras Extension in the Municipality of Jordan, into a state college.

Then, in the first regular session of the Eleventh Congress, Representative Dante Ventura Liban and Representative Emily Relucio-Lopez filed House Bill 12358 (in substitution for House Bills 5807 & 7382). On June 8, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9138 into law. The law established the Guimaras State College, merging the Guimaras Polytechnic College in the Municipality of Buenavista and the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology–Guimaras Extension in the Municipality of Jordan. The GSC in Buenavista was the main college grounds of the college and referred to as GSC Salvador while the one in Jordan was referred to as GSC Mosqueda Annex; [and the one in San Lorenzo was referred to as GSC Baterna Annex—an expansion during Dr. Rogelio T. Artajo's presidency].

GSU has had a mandate, from its very inception, to offer undergraduate and graduate courses in technology education, agriculture, fisheries, engineering, arts and sciences, forestry, business, health, computer, criminology, nautical and short-term vocational-technical and other continuing courses that may be found to be needed and relevant. It has promoted research, advanced studies, extension work and progressive leadership in each area of specialization ever since its beginning. Too, it has provided primary consideration through the integration of research/studies for the development of the Province of Guimaras.

For the next five decades, a principal, five administrators, an acting administrator, and an SUC president would take the helm and lead the school to its current level of excellence: Jose E. Esquera, Florencio D. Doromal, Cerilo P. Tamayo, Arthur Clemente, Mercedes R. Regalado, Teodoro B. Alenton, Hector G. Zamora, and Dr. Sofronio D. Dignomo.

Over 50 years later after its founding, the Philippine Congress approved GSC's conversion to University status by way of RA 11335, and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed it into law on April 26, 2019.

Today, having been the first state college in the whole Philippines to be Institutionally Accredited (IA) by Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, the Guimaras State University awards 58 bachelor's, 8 master's, and 4 doctorate degrees—and it is going on with more degree offerings.

With a promising future, having been the first state college in the whole Philippines to be included in the group of 11 state universities and college by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its Internationalization Network Program, the university is positioned to become the most student-centered university in research, teaching, and public engagement on the island, in the West Visayas, and beyond.

The Guimaras State University has two annexes: Mosqueda Annex (in Alaguisoc, Jordan, Guimaras; Jordan is the primary gateway of logistics, investments promotion and global transshipment center of the province) and the Baterna Annex (in Constancia, San Lorenzo, Guimaras; San Lorenzo is the renewable energy, agri-fishery processing and support services center of the province).

Mosqueda Annex. By virtue of Republic Act 9138, the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology* (WVCST)-Guimaras Extension Campus in Alaguisoc, Jordan was officially turned over to the Guimaras State College during the celebration of the annual Manggahan Festival in May 2002.

The University Mosqueda Annex has an enrollment of about 864 students. It offers Master of Public Administration and Master of Education, Bachelor of Industrial Technology, Bachelor of Elementary and Secondary Education, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Criminology, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Bachelor in Industrial Technology.

Baterna Annex. The University Baterna Annex in Constancia, San Lorenzo is now the host of the College of Agriculture and Fisheries, pursuant to its mandate as provided in RA 9138.

The Guimaras State University is based in Buenavista, a town in Guimaras whose functional role is as center for higher education and agropolitan development. It lies about 4 miles (about 16 km) north-east of Jordan, the provincial capital of Guimaras. Most of the university's teaching activities take place at the Salvador Campus, which occupy a 5-hectare site with billowing trees in a sprawling park-like setting. A number of jeepneys and tricycles provide a public transport link between the university's central area throughout the year, both during and outside term times.

The province of Guimaras has a total land area of 60,457 hectares. The Province's specialization is on services sector (59%) particularly on other services which are both highest among the provinces in the region. Agriculture, fishery, and forestry sector ranks only second (8.76%). The industries that have the best potentials for contributing to the Province's economic growth are tourism, mango and cashew production, and food processing. Fishery including seaweed farming is considered as constrained performer which can best perform if supported. The province's annual per capita poverty threshold is pegged at Php 23,436 in 2017. There are 128 indigenous people's households, with a total population of 633 staying in the four identified areas in the four municipalities (excluding San Lorenzo), namely: Kati-Kati in San Miguel, Jordan; Serum in San Nicolas, Buenavista; Ubog in Lanipe Nueva Valencia; and Sitio Lininguan in Maabay, Sibunag.

All the five municipalities and most barangays within the province are accessible by land transport. Nevertheless, three island barangays can only be reached by pump boats. The various modes of transportation available within the province are jeepneys, tricycles, vans, and single motorcycles. Motorboats and sailboats are the means of transport to the island barangays. Communication technology is never a problem in the province. Electricity in the province is almost everywhere with 99.0% of the province's barangays benefiting from rural electrification. It is provided by electric cooperatives and private electric company which is in each of the five municipalities. The province's peace and order is managed by 39 policemen with a police to population ratio of one policeman for every 944 persons. Crime rate in October 2019 is at 3.59%. The Province listed 571,699 tourist arrival in 2017.

The university's logo is an important part of the graphic identity of the Guimaras State University. It is reserved for uses which promote the heritage and history of the university, such as degree certificates, invitations to formal University events, and sports team apparel and merchandise.

Inside the maroon gear is the name ‘Guimaras State University’in Akzidenz-Grotesk font in white text color; ‘Buenavista, Guimaras’ states its main campus's address—and the tower in tan-brown and the computer symbolize technology. The fire-red atom stands for science, which is one of the main thrusts of the university. The torch represents truth, divinity, liberty, freedom, justice, inspiration, enlightenment, leadership, and a dedication to education. The open book signifies education. The carabao's head projects the agricultural offerings while the fish projects the course offerings for the prospective, separate University's College of Fisheries. The two fronds of forest-green laurel forming an arch are the symbol of honor and integrity.

Hon. J. Prospero E. De Vera, III
Chairman, Commission on Higher Education
Chairman, GSU Board of Regents

Hon. Lilian Diana B. Parreño
University President
Vice Chairperson

Hon. Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero
Chairman, Senate Committee on Higher and Technical Education
Member

Hon. Mark O. Go
Chairman, Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the House of Representatives
Member

Hon. Arecio A. Casing, Jr.
Regional Director, National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA) Region VI – Western Visayas
Member

Hon. Rowen R. Gelonga
Regional Director, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region VI – Western Visayas
Member

Hon. Jose Albert A. Barrogo
Regional Director, Department of Agriculture (DA) Region VI – Western Visayas
Member

Hon. Dionne B. Fernandez
Private Sector Representative
Member

Hon. Sanie D. Ong
Private Sector Representative
Member

Hon. Erly M. Martir
Representative, Federated Alumni Association
Member

Hon. Jonathan G. Gabion
President, Federated Faculty Association
Member

Hon. Celine D. Eulin
President, Federated Student Republic
Member

The university offers degree programs which are relevant to the development needs of several sectors.

1. College of Teacher Education
•Bachelor of Elementary Education major in General Education
•Bachelor of Secondary Education
majors in English, Filipino, Mathematics, and Social Studies
•Diploma in Teaching
•Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education Major in Home Economics and Livelihood Education

2. College of Arts & Sciences
•Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies
•Bachelor of Public Administration

3. College of Business Administration
•Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
major in Financial Management,
major in Marketing Management
major in Human Resource Management
•Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
•Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
•Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management

4. College of Science and Technology
•Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
•Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
•Bachelor of Science in Food Technology
•Bachelor of Science in Information System

5. College of Engineering and Industrial Technology
•Bachelor of Industrial Technology
•Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
•Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

6. College of Criminal Justice Education
•Bachelor of Science in Criminology

7. College of Agriculture and Fisheries (Baterna Campus)
•Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
•Bachelor of Science in Fisheries

8. Graduate School
•Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) major in Educational Management
•Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) major in Curriculum Instruction
•Doctor in Management (D.M.)
major in Business Administration
major in Human Resource Management

•Master in Education (M.Ed.) major in Educational Management
•Master of Art in Teaching Mathematics (M.A.T.)
•Master in Public Administration (MPA)
•Master in Business Administration (MBA)