To revitalize the once vibrant local abaca industry in Eastern Visayas, the National Abaca Research Center (NARC) recently established an 18-million peso worth of Research and Instructional Building that will also house a dedicated Tissue Culture Laboratory.

The launching of the first-ever research collaboration of VSU freshwater studies with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP), and State Universities and Colleges within Region 8 marks a significant turning point for the university's freshwater research. By the same token, this collaboration is of paramount importance in filling the gaps of knowledge regarding the status and quality of the freshwater ecosystem in the Eastern Visayas and ensuring sufficient funding and resources.