Cong. Edgar Chatto, considered as “Father of (Bohol Island State University) BISU”, is the guest of honor in the virtual 11th anniversary celebration program simultaneously held in all the six campuses of the Bohol Island State University (BISU) provincewide.
Chatto was the principal author of Republic Act No. 9722 which established BISU. In his speech delivered at the BISU Balilihan, Chatto commended the school led by University President Dr. Regucivilla Pobar, the Board of Regents led by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Perfecto Alibin and the BISU Family for bringing pride to Bohol, producing some of the most outstanding graduates and becoming one of the best state universities in the country today.
The name BISU was Chatto’s idea after CHED and Congress asked for another name aside from the original Bohol State University (BSU) as many state universities adopted similar names.
Chatto had said adding the word “Island” will make everybody know that Bohol is an island and courses available are all leading towards its development including – Tourism, Fishery, Agriculture, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Coastal Resource Management, and many others.
Pobar, in her charter day message, recognized Chatto’s fatherly support, describing his care and protection for BISU as unwavering and with no signs of slowdown.
She cited the first district representative’s noble idea of the opening of a BISU College of Medicine in collaboration with other government agencies and organizations with the endorsement of the private universities.
Its realization will empower deserving Boholano students through free medical school education, she said. “It will also strengthen our measure to fortify our shield against deadly diseases and to sustain our physical well-being in the province and in the country.”
“With his unceasing encouragement, BISU is working hard for the eventual realization of the Government College of Medicine in Bohol.
Pobar reported, thanking Chatto and committing to work with him on the plan.
In the proposed medical school, BISU will partner with Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital and the province’s private universities will act as feeder schools for preparatory medicine courses.
The plan was a result of separate online consultations with Bohol university presidents Fr. Ruel Lero of Holy Name University (HNU), Dr. Victoriano B. Tirol III of University of Bohol (UB) and. Pobar of BISU, and related agencies CHED, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, Philippine Regulatory Commission (PRC) Board of Medicine, and the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges Foundation, Inc (APMCF).
Signed into law on October 14, 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, BISU has had significant accomplishments as a state university.
Pobar reports that this year alone, BISU Main Campus obtained 77.78 passing percentage in the Architecture Licensure Examination held last January 2020 and 100 passing percentage in Mechanical Engineer Licensure examination given last February 2020.
For faculty, Dr. Samuel Gulayan received the Best Research Award for Faculty from the Provincial Government of Bohol for his research entitled Coral Transportation Technology for Sustainable Fisheries and Underwater Tourism.
BISU is also a recipient of externally funded research and research activities such as Intellectual Property – Technology Business Management Office; CVAARDEC which has been in operation for almost three years now; and Isolation Tent production financed by the Commission on Higher Education.
The university also submitted intellectual property documents to the Intellectual Property of the Philippines (IPOPhil) pending applications for Industrial Designs of Swabbing Booth and Isolation Tent filed by the Main Campus; Full Patent applications for Gumamela Wine and Tableya-flavored Calamay; and Copyright application for the Advanced Multidisciplinary Journal of Clarin Campus.
Amidst the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic, BISU extended its extension activities to response including donations of face shields, face masks, swabbing booths, and isolation tents, among others.
Eleven (11) years since its establishment and with numerous achievements, BISU is strongly determined to continue to achieve greater heights in responding to the challenges of our times, Pobar said.