The College of Fisheries, one of the ten campuses of the Pangasinan State University is located in Binmaley, Pangasinan. It is approximately 100 meters away from the intersection of the two main roads going to two barangays San Isidro Norte and Buenlag. The six buildings stand on a 3.8 hectare land, while the fishponds used for instruction and research spread out on 2.4 hectares of land. The College of Fisheries as to its emergence, went through stages of transformation. Originally, it started as the Binmaley School of Fisheries by virtue of R.A. 685 in 1966 and later became the Pangasinan College of Fisheries in 1969. Course offerings were then focused on both the secondary and tertiary levels.
With the creation of the Pangasinan State University in 1979 under PD 1497, the collegiate program of the PCF was integrated into the PSU system and likewise, marked the end of the direct supervision of the DECS. The degree programs, including the faculty, support staff, a portion of the school site and some buildings, were transferred to the PSU. The Secondary School meanwhile, remained with the Pangasinan College of Fisheries which is now under the supervision of the Department of Education and the post-secondary/technical education being under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Region I.
The PSU Binmaley Campus is committed to its mission by providing quality education. It continues to put the campus into the new heights, achieving more recognition.
The 23 years of existence, PSU-BC has undergone several local administrations. Mr. Adolfo Aldana was designated as the first Dean of the College from (1979-1983). During his term, the Arts and Sciences Building and the Marine Laboratory Research Station were constructed. Mr. Victorio Sison succeeded Mr. Aldana and spearheaded the construction of fishponds and the completion of the Administration Building. During his term, the college has maintained the offering of two (2) four-year courses, namely, the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSF) and Bachelor of Science in Fishery Education (BSFE), both offering three specializations – Inland Fisheries, Marine Fisheries and Fish Processing Technology. He served as Officer-in-charge of the College from 1983-1986.
Later, the college offered three additional approved courses: the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies (BSES) which started in SY 1996-1997; the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology (BSMB) and the Bachelor of Science in Shipping Business Management (BSSBM) which started in SY 1998-1999.
In 1986, Dr. Porferio L. Basilio was designated by President Rufino Eslao as the next College Dean, which he held for 9-years. During his term, he had strengthened the Research and Extension programs of the College. His efforts succeeded as the college was chosen as the Aquaculture Training Center for Region I by the Philippine Council Marine Aquatic Research and Development (PCAMRD) and the Regional Training Center on Prawn Culture by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Region I.
In 1995-1996, Prof. Ceferino Toledo, served as the officer-in-charge from August 1995 to May 1996. His strong leadership and determination coupled with the full support of all faculty, staff and students, the college passed Level I Accreditation for its programs by the Accrediting Agency for Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, Inc., (AACCUP) in January 1996.
When Dr. Teresita C. Perez was designated as the New College Dean in 1996, the College underwent tremendous change and rapid development. She was strict, disciplinarian and workaholic. Her efforts paid off as enrolment increased by about 70%. The new course offering of Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies (BSES), the construction of the Student Lounge and Microbiology Laboratory, collectively attributed to the enrolment surge.
Dr. Josephine P. Arquillano, took over the deanship in March 1998-1999. Through her strong leadership, the college became the first College of Fisheries in Region I that passed the Level II Accreditation of BS Fisheries Program. Two undergraduate courses were offered during her term; the Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology and Bachelor of Science in Shipping Business Management and one graduate course in the PSU Open University System- Master in Aquaculture.
In June 1999, Dr. Antonio M. Bautista was designated as College Dean for one year. Despite his hort stint as head of the Campus, he had fortified the research unit and strengthened local and foreign linkages. Dr. Leonardo E. Monje, Vice-President for Research and Extension, was designated as the College Dean for six months. In October 2000, Dr. Josephine P. Arquillano was again designated as the College Dean up to March 31, 2004. Her significant milestone as the Campus Dean was the awarding of the College as the Center of Excellence for Fisheries in Region I by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). This put PSU Binmaley Campus in the fisheries map of the country.
The Board of Regents, through Resolution Number 12 (d), series 2000 approved the proposals for new curricular offerings and programs for adoption by PSU-Binmaley Campus. The new courses approved were: Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim), Bachelor in Food Technology (BFT) and the Ladderized BS Fisheries Curriculum. In consonance with Executive Order 694, programs approved for adoption were: Bachelor in Secondary Education (BSE) (Majors in English, Math, and Biological Science) and Information and Communications Technology (BSICT).
On April 1, 2004, Prof. Rolando B. Cerezo became the Officer-in-charge and assumed the Deanship on August 2, 2004 until October 5, 2009. He was the first alumnus of the college who became the Campus Dean. During his term, he had made the Campus as the Regional Institute for Governmental Governance (IEG), Regional Fish Processing Livelihood and Training Center and Regional Research and Development for Bangus. Two new curricular programs were offered; the BS Criminology and BS Hospitality Management.
Dean Cerezo initiated the revision of the BS Fisheries and BS Environmental Science Programs relative to CHED Memo Order 43 and CMO 35 respectively. Likewise, a revision and revival of the MS in Aquaculture Program under the PSU OUS as per recommendation from the Board of Regents was made leading to a massive campaign for new students in Region I, 3 and CAR.
Corollary to the development in the Campus, Dean Cerezo has recommended the participants of the faculty and staff to several local, regional and national as well as international conferences, seminars and trainings. Some participants who had their paper presentations in these conferences garnered national and international awards.
During Cerezo’s Administration, there was a massive training of LGU Officials of Coastal Cities and Municipalities of Pangasinan from TEAM Energy Foundation, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan. Hence a P3.2M was worked out by him to finance the said endeavor. The first tranche of which was P1.7M which was handed during the Opening Program of the Biennial Celebration.
Likewise, more scholarship slots were enjoyed by poor but deserving students in the campus. Dean Cerezo and Dr. Rosie S. Abalos, were the proponents of the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries Modified Scholarship Scheme which grants full tuition scholarship to qualified students.
Further, he sought the sponsorship of the Local Government Units to shoulder the student’s miscellaneous fees. The latest of which was the sponsorship of the Municipal Mayors of Bani and Dasol, with 31 and 3 students, respectively. Further, he supported the attendance of student leaders in various seminars, conferences and trainings.
On October 6, 2009, Dr. Honorio L. Cascolan, VP for Research, Extension and Auxiliary Services, was designated as OIC of the College. Research program of the College was intensified during his short term. The campus landscaping was one of his major contributions to the college.
On August 15, 2011 up to this date, Dr. Rosie S. Abalos was designated as the Officer-in-Charge Campus Executive Director. In just a year, Dr. Abalos had made significant accomplishments, namely; the renewal of IEG Partnership (Upland), approval of Criminology program (1st and 2nd level and on the process of evaluation for the full grant of the BS Criminology Program), implementation of the National Aquasilviculture Program in partnership with BFAR.
Schedule for the level III accreditation of BSF Program on September 2012, Preparation of document in bringing back the title “Center of Excellence”, First and Second tranches of 500,000 as Provincial Institute of Fisheries, Establish linkages with National and International Partnership. Enrolment sprouted to 604 and hiring of additional faculty in the different programs. Procurement of new computers and laboratory equipment, rehabilitation and repair of different laboratories (e.g. fishery sciences lab, ichthyology lab, capture fish lab, wet lab and computer lab) and construction of Crime Scene Laboratory building are some of the tangible projects she made.
The Administration established many linkages with different agencies from the time it was established to the present. Among which are the selection PSU Binmaley as the Regional Institute for Environment Governance in partnership with Tanggol Kalikasan Provincial Government of Pangasinan. The Regional Fish Processing Training and Livelihood Center in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region I and Office of the Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr; the Solar Salt Demo Project in Las Pinas City, Metro Manila in partnership with the Office of then Sen. Manuel Villar and Cong. Cynthia Villar; the integrated Fish Farming Project Research I partnership with the BFAR-National Fisheries Research Development Institute; and the Provincial Coastal Resource Management Plan in partnership with the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and NEDA Region I. In 2008, PSU-Binmaley Campus became the Bangus Regional Research and Development Council No. 19, s2008. Relative to this, the Provincial Government of Pangasinan through Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. has awarded the former Manat Oyster Demonstration Farm in Binmaley to convert as the Regional Bangus Center. To date, the administration is working out a P5.6M program for the renovation of the PSU Marine Research Laboratory Station in Baquioen, Sual, Pangasinan and the training of LGU officials for all Coastal Cities and Municipalities of Pangasinan from MIRANT Foundation Inc. in partnership with Tanggol Kalikasan and recently a budget amounting to 3.46M was granted by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Central Office for the community outreach specifically for the “National Aquasilviculture Program” which will be transferred to the indigent beneficiaries within the coastal barangays in Pangasinan. In collaboration with DA-BFAR Asian Fisheries Academy and the Philippine Council for Aquatic Marine Research and Development. BS Fisheries students are actively participating in the implementation of the school on the Air which is aired over radio programs different technologies in fisheries.
The different administrators have put the campus into the new heights, achieving more recognition. As a manifestation, the College was awarded as the Center of Excellence for Fisheries in Region I by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for a period of three years, 2002-2004 and was extended for another 3 years from 2005-2007. It has gone through numerous accomplishments in various areas of concern like infrastructure and human resource and curriculum development. The campus had produced six (6) topnotchers; (4) in 2005 and (1) in 2006 and 2007. The program had a 56% Passing Rate in the LFT. This made PSU-BC as the top performing Fishery School in the entire Philippine Archipelago.