BISCAST Student Development Services

Congratulations 👏

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 | 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀’ 𝗭𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗬𝗙𝗖 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 ₱𝟱𝟬𝟬𝗞 𝗗𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁

ILOILO CITY – The Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST) scored another major national victory as student enterprise Zesty Naturals was declared one of the Top 3 awardees in the 2026 National Young Farmers Challenge (YFC), awarded today, April 23, 2026, at the Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City.

The national win comes with a ₱500,000 financial grant from the Department of Agriculture, on top of the ₱250,000 start-up grant the team earlier secured after emerging as regional winner in the Bicol leg of the competition.

Representing the Bicol Region, BISCAST emerged as one of only three national winners in the YFC Intercollegiate Component, among 15 qualifying State and Local Universities and Colleges (SLUCs) across the Philippines.

The winning team is composed of Marianne Ruth B. Borbe, Joy P. Agravante, Lyndon B. Cecilio, Jean Perl B. Sarte, and Gewell D. L. Cañeza, accompanied by faculty coach Dr. Anna Liza M. Mateo.

Zesty Naturals is a student-led agribusiness venture featuring innovative house care and wellness products, bannered by Zing, a kamias-based mouthwash developed as a natural, safe, and budget-friendly alternative for consumers.

The YFC Intercollegiate Competition is a national initiative of the Department of Agriculture that empowers students to build sustainable agribusinesses while pursuing their studies.

This milestone reflects the grit and entrepreneurial excellence of BISCAST students, fostered by the mentorship of the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, with the guidance of former Dean Dr. Ana Marie A. Binalla and current Dean Dr. Leciel D. Ramos.

Under the enthusiastic leadership of SUC President II Prof. Charlie P. Nacario, PhD, and with the strong support of VPAA Dr. Apolonia C. Sebello and VPAF Mr. Abbas F. Villalon, BISCAST remains committed to advancing student innovation and enterprise development opportunities that transform promising ideas into nationally recognized successes.

𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗧!