Dr. Rico Ancog, a highly awarded academic leader and researcher, has been appointed as the new Deputy Director for Administration of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) effective 1 December 2025.
Ancog is a Professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and a recognized UP Scientist. He was the Dean of the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) from 2021 to 2025. He has risen through the ranks at SEARCA, previously serving as a Program Specialist of the Research and Development Department (now known as the Research and Thought Leadership Department), Operations Consultant of the Emerging Innovation for Growth Department from 2020 to 2021, and as Special Assistant to the Center Director in 2025.
With a distinguished career spanning sustainability science, environmental policy, economic valuation, and systems thinking, Ancog is committed to bridging science and policy for inclusive and sustainable development in Southeast Asia. His extensive work includes research for the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on the Philippine Mangrove Systems Account, a part of the Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) program. Ancog also contributed to the development of a supplemental manual for integrating disaster risk reduction management and climate change adaptation into NEDA's Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) project evaluation system and conducted analyses of the efficiency and financing of coastal resources management (CRM) programs in 24 local government units across the Philippines.
Ancog's achievements have earned him national distinction, including the Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) Award from the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in 2019 and recognition as one of The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in 2022. Internationally, he represents the Philippines in the General Assembly of Future Earth (FE) and serves on the Scientific Steering Committee of MAIRS-FE, hosted by Peking University. He is also a Commissioner of the Value Commission, a Europe-based organization dedicated to creating global standards for value evaluation. His other accolades include the Dr. Elvira O. Tan Award for Best Published Paper in 2017 and the Asian Young Professional on Water Research Award in 2009.
Ancog completed his PhD at UPLB, with a research stint at Nagoya University.
SEARCA is confident that Ancog's leadership will further drive innovation, excellence, and collaboration within the Center and throughout the region, guiding SEARCA toward greater achievements in the years ahead.