After the Letter of Agreement between the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Visayas State University (VSU) for the project “Gawad Patnubay (Gawad Pag-aaral Tungo sa Maunlad na Bayan) Scholarship Program” was signed on July 24, 2013 by Ms. Corinta Quijano Guerta, IRRI Director for External Relations, and on September 2, 2013 by Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, VSU President, five college students of VSU shall avail of the IRRI-Landbank Gawad Patnubay Scholarship Program effective second semester of school year 2013-2014.

The Visayas State University (VSU) has been named as the Sustainable and Eco-Friendly School in the Philippines (College Category) during the 2013 National Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools. The plaque was received by VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, and Dr. Maria Juliet C. Ceniza, former Director of the Institute of Tropical Ecology, on November 20, 2013 during the Awarding Ceremonies held at the 3^rd Floor, Activity Center of SM City-North EDSA, Quezon City. Attached to the award was a cash prize of PhP50,000. Aside from the major award, VSU also bagged the “Meralco Energy Leadership Award” for promoting practices and initiatives in electrical safety, energy efficiency and conservation. It received a plaque of recognition and cash award of PhP20,000.