Isabela State University (ISU) had its Investiture Ceremony for Dr. Boyet L. Batang (University President) as the 7th President of ISU. The said ceremony was presided over by Hon. Myrna Q. Mallari (Commissioner, Commission on Higher Education) on January 28, 2026 at the ISU-E Amphitheater.
Dr. Batang was elected as University President through a majority of votes by the ISU Board of Regents (ISU BOR) on March 20, 2025 and was sworn into office on May 15, 2025 for a full four-year term before then CHED Commissioner Marita R. Canapi.
In his Investiture and first State of the University Address, Dr. Batang expressed the importance of a purposeful and unified direction for the University’s future. With this, he highlighted the administration’s early efforts to translate its Smart-Green vision into a comprehensive five-year strategic plan. Developed through broad stakeholder consultation, the said strategic plan will set a clear course toward building ISU’s distinct trail of excellence in the years ahead.
“We are assured that we must be moving, not to any direction, but to the direction where we all want to see ISU creating that unique trail of excellence in the years to come,” he said.
Dr. Batang also shared the University’s accomplishments under its key result areas and its four (4) main thrusts of instruction, research, extension, and resource generation and management.
These include strengthened program compliance, improved academic quality across campuses, and outstanding performances in licensure examinations. This year, ISU has acquired a total of 420 million pesos worth of infrastructure funding across the system. Dr. Batang shared that the ISU community shall see the physical realization of modernizing student services for the academic clientele of the University System. This is in addition to over 80 million pesos in externally-sourced funding secured from national agencies and development partners.
The address also highlighted ISU’s shift toward smarter and greener operations, with ongoing efforts to adopt paperless transactions and the upcoming launch of e-governance platforms for enrollment and payment systems. As part of ISU’s push for sustainable production, Dr. Batang also announced the green light from the Bureau of Agricultural Research to establish a new Marketing Center at the ISU Echague Campus to boost the University’s capacity to promote and distribute its innovations.
The Investiture Ceremony was made possible through the leadership of the Executive Committee spearheaded by Dr. Hilda A. Manzolim (Vice President for Administration and Finance Services) as Chairperson, with Dr. Precila C. Delima (Vice President for Academic Affairs), Dr. Orlando F. Balderama (Vice President for Research, Extension and Development), and Dr. Isagani P. Angeles (Vice President for Planning and Development) as Co-Chairpersons.
They were joined by committee members Mr. Joven Diaz (University Director for Finance Services), Mr. Constante G. Medina (University Director for Planning and Development), Dr. Artemio Martin Jr. (Cluster Executive Officer – ISU Echague), Dr. Marisol S. Foronda (Cluster Executive Officer – ISU Cauayan), Dr. Alfonso R. Simon (Cluster Executive Officer – ISU Ilagan), and Dr. Jane G. Cabauatan (Cluster Executive Officer – ISU Cabagan).
Present during the event were Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino (Commissioner, CHED and 6th President of ISU), presidents of state universities and colleges (SUCs) and higher education institutions (HEIs), heads of international and regional/national partner institutions and agencies, former ISU officials, present and former members of the ISU BOR, and other stakeholders. The investiture rites was likewise attended by faculty members, students, and other members of the University community.
The Investiture Ceremony signified the start of the University’s journey to develop future-ready professionals, advance sustainable and inclusive growth, and continue leading as a model Smart-Green University. Prior to the formal rites, ISU marked two major milestones with the ribbon-cutting of the new ISU-E Multipurpose Building, now home to the offices of the University’s top management and a modern auditorium, and the official unveiling of the new ISU seal to symbolize the new vision and mission for the institution.
Since 1978, ISU has been led by the following presidents: Dr. Felipe B. Cachola (1978–1986); Dr. Rodolfo C. Nayga (1986–1999); Dr. Miguel P. Ramos (1999–2004); Dr. Romeo R. Quilang (2004–2012); Dr. Aleth M. Mamauag (2021–2026); and Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino (2017–2025).
