SEARCA in the News

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has approved the five-year roadmap for Agriculture Higher Education in the Philippines, a landmark framework developed by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in partnership with Visayas State University (VSU). According to SEARCA, headed by Center Director Mercedita Sombilla, the roadmap marks a significant milestone in the country's efforts to elevate agricultural education and boost the sector's contribution to national development. It was endorsed during the CHEd Committee en banc meeting on Feb. 2, 2026. SEARCA said the roadmap presents a forward-looking vision… Read more

Climate resilience must take root in farms and communities — not just in infrastructure — according to the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture during a climate engagement held Feb. 20, 2026, at the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Command Center. The center underscored the need for food systems transformation as a cornerstone of strengthening community resilience against climate change impacts. Dr. Mercy Sombilla of SEARCA said climate action should go beyond mitigation strategies and directly support agricultural communities, which are among the most vulnerable to climate risks. She emphasized that climate-smart… Read more

THE Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) organized on January 26–27 the Inception Workshop of the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook Series). SEARCA Center Director Mercedita Sombilla said the workshop aimed to provide a venue for SEARCA and country experts from 11 Southeast Asian countries "to discuss and agree on the country studies' overall focus, methods of analysis, data sources, and report contents." During the event, Sombilla presented an overview of the SEA Agri Outlook Series, a flagship publication that provides policy-relevant insights through a mixed-methods analytical framework integrating quantitative data… Read more

Until his passing in 2020, Dr. Rolando Dy was one of the most influential agribusiness economists in the Philippines, advising both government officials and top executives on agricultural policy and strategy. In the 1980s, while working at the World Bank, he was part of an expert team sent to Thailand and Malaysia to help craft long-term agricultural development plans. It was due in part to his team's guidance that these two countries became global leaders in high-value food crops. Ironically, when he returned to the Philippines and established the think tank Center for Food and Agri Business, much of his… Read more

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) said that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved its five-year roadmap for agriculture higher education in the Philippines. In a statement on Thursday, the organization said the roadmap, developed in partnership with the Visayas State University and engagement of selected higher education institutions (HEIs) and private-sector organizations, was endorsed during the CHED Committee En Banc meeting earlier this month. SEARCA said the roadmap is expected to elevate agricultural education. It seeks to strengthen the sector's contribution to national development as it lays out a forward-looking… Read more

BANGKOK — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has officially launched the Southeast Asia Agricultural Outlook Series (SEA Agri Outlook Series), a flagship initiative designed to provide data-driven, policy-relevant insights into the region's agricultural transformation. The Inception Workshop for the series was held on 26–27 January 2026, bringing together country experts from 11 Southeast Asian nations to establish a unified framework for comprehensive agricultural analysis across the region. A Comprehensive Analytical Framework Dr. Mercedita Sombilla, SEARCA Center Director, welcomed participants and outlined the ambitious scope of the publication. The SEA Agri Outlook Series… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Philippines — A nationwide endline evaluation led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has validated that the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund–Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) is driving significant improvements in productivity, profitability, and climate resilience among Filipino rice farmers. The study, titled "Reaping the Benefits: Evaluation of RCEF-RESP 2019–2024," was presented on 27 January 2026 during the Department of Agriculture–Agricultural Training Institute's (DA-ATI) annual performance review in Quezon City. It assessed the program's impact following the enactment of Republic Act No. 11203, or the Rice Tariffication Law. Over 300,000 farmers… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has formally approved a comprehensive five-year roadmap aimed at transforming agricultural higher education in the Philippines, marking a major policy breakthrough in efforts to modernize the sector and develop a future-ready agri-food workforce. The Five-Year Roadmap for Agriculture Higher Education in the Philippines was endorsed during the CHED Committee En Banc meeting on 2 February 2026, following a multi-year development process led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in partnership with Visayas State University (VSU). A cohesive framework for reform The roadmap… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has approved the Five-Year Roadmap for Agriculture Higher Education in the Philippines, a landmark framework developed by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) in partnership with Visayas State University (VSU). The roadmap, endorsed during the CHED Committee En Banc meeting on 2 February 2026, represents a significant milestone in the country's efforts to elevate agricultural education and strengthen the sector's contribution to national development. The roadmap lays out a forward-looking vision to modernize academic programs, enhance institutional leadership, and align agricultural higher… Read more

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — A comprehensive and nationwide endline evaluation led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) has validated the positive impact of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Extension Services Program (RCEF-RESP) on rice farmers. The program, implemented by the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), has significantly improved rice farm productivity and profitability, benefiting over 300,000 farmers, trainers, and extension intermediaries across 57 priority rice-producing provinces. SEARCA presented the findings of the project titled "Reaping the Benefits: Evaluation of RCEF-RESP 2019-2024" during the Keeping on Track: ATI's Fiscal Year (FY) 2025… Read more