A group of eight-member National Technical Committee for the Gawad Saka came to the Visayas State University (VSU) on July 12-13, 2013 for field validation of the nomination of Dr. Erlinda A. Vasquez, professor of PhilRootcrops and 2012 Regional Gawad Saka Outstanding Agricultural Scientist awardee, to the 2013 National Gawad Saka Search for Outstanding Agricultural Scientist.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through its chairperson, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, has awarded the Visayas State University's (VSU) Department of Development Communication (DDC) of the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) as the country's Center of Development (COD) in Development Communication.

As the College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS) prepares for Level IV (Phase II) accreditation of its Agriculture Program this coming October 2013, the different departments under the college conducted the Strategic Planning Workshop on July 3-4, 2013 at the Center for Continuing Education.

The Visayas State University (VSU), represented by its President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, and the Visayan Association of Australia (VAA), Incorporated, represented by its President, Mr. Jhun Salazar, had entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a Scholarship Program at VSU. The MOA was signed on May 22, 2013 at the VSU Office of the President. Mr. Salazar was represented by his sister, Ms. Josephine Salazar-Brown, who also signed the MOA, together with Engr. Manolo B. Loreto, Jr., Dean of Students, as witnesses.

Some forty agriculture teachers, researchers, supervisors, technical personnel, and students of higher education institutions, government agencies, and private firms from Visayas and Mindanao (Vis-Min) convened on June 25-28, 2013 at the VSU's Department of Horticulture for the "Training on Horticultural Research, Technology Development and Commercialization."

The Visayas State University (VSU) Main Campus in Baybay City, Leyte has been shortlisted as one of the three contenders in the 2013 Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools in Region 8 (College Category). This was revealed on June 13, 2013 during the visit of the four evaluators composed of Ms. Rowena P. Vinegas from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mr. Cydric B. Suyom of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Dr. Antonio A. Pino of the Department of Education (DepEd), and Mr. Rusty V. Bautista of the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PCAPI)—all in Region 8.

After a thorough evaluation by the Regional Level Core Group for the 2013 Search for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Schools in Region 8 (College Category), the Visayas State University Main Campus through its President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, received a letter dated July 16, 2013 from the OIC Regional Director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Region 8, Director Letecia R. Maceda, congratulating the University as the Regional Winner in the Tertiary Category. Likewise, VSU was adjudged Regional Winner for the two Special Categories: Water Leadership Award and Energy Leadership Award.