Guimaras State University had its humble beginnings as a secondary vocational institution, the Buenavista Vocational School (BVS), which was established through Republic Act 3933 in 1964, with Representative Rodolfo Ganzon of the 2nd District of Iloilo as the principal sponsor.
Timeline
1962
The establishment of BVS was the culmination of the efforts of many local officials starting with Hon. Tomas Junco, who sponsored a resolution requesting the statesmen in Congress to establish a vocational school in Buenavista in 1962.
1964
With the passage of Republic Act 3933 in 1964, Congressman Fermin Caram of the Lone District of Iloilo City exerted effort for the implementation of the law.
1968
Buenavista Vocational School
Four years later, through the efforts of Atty. Ernesto Gaduyon and Governor Abelardo Javellana, the philanthropist Atty. Juan Salvador donated a 50,000-square-meter lot from his estate in Barangay Mclain, Buenavista, Guimaras, to serve as the school site.
As a result, Buenavista Vocational School was officially opened.
1980
In 1980, the school was granted a permit to offer post-secondary courses. The two-year trade technical and technology courses paved the way for the offering of higher education courses, which include both terminal and ladderized programs.
1992
In 1992, the Sangguniang Bayan of Buenavista passed a resolution requesting Representative Alberto Lopez from the second district of Iloilo to work towards the conversion of Buenavista Vocational School into Guimaras Polytechnic College.
1994
In July 1994, Representative Lopez filed House Bill 6252 in Congress seeking the conversion of the BVS into a Polytechnic College.
1995
Guimaras Polytechnic College
In March 1995, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 7944,
paving the way for the conversion of Buenavista Vocational School into Guimaras Polytechnic College.
2000
In June 2000, Representative Emily R. Lopez of the Lone District of Guimaras held a consultation and public hearing on House Bills 7382 and 5807. 179 public and private sector representatives supported the conversion of GPC, Buenavista, and Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST)-Mosqueda Campus in Jordan into a State College.
2001
Guimaras State College
Dante V. Liban and Emily R. Lopez filed House Bill 12358 in the eleventh Congress' first regular session (in substitution of House Bills 5807 & 7382).
On June 8, 2001, President Gloria M. Arroyo signed Republic Act 9138, creating the Guimaras State College by merging the Guimaras Polytechnic College in Buenavista and the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology - Guimaras Extension in Jordan.
2012
The 15th Congress enacted House Bill 06634 (An Act Converting the Guimaras State College in The Province of Guimaras Into a State University to Be Known as The Guimaras State University and Appropriating Funds Therefor) by former Congressman Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava.
2014
Cong. Rahman Nava refiled HB 05181 in the 16th Congress, which the House approved and sent to the Senate in December 2014.
17th Congress - Hon. Ma. Lucille Ledesma Nava sponsored HB 07953 to convert GSC to GSU.
2019
President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act 11335 on April 26, 2019.
2022
Guimaras State University
In June 7, 2022, the CHED Commission en Banc confirmed the conversion of Guimaras State College into Guimaras State University.
At last, the people of Guimaras have the chance to get educated and become professionals right in their own locale, spending less for quality education.
