It was a full-circle moment for Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who received the 2026 Outstanding SEARCA Scholarship Alumni (OSSA) Award for Research more than four decades after earning a scholarship from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
“A scholarship can change one person’s path, as it helped change mine. Through the work of its scholars and alumni, that opportunity can reach a classroom, a research team, a public agency, and eventually a rural community. This is how a personal achievement can become a contribution to development,” the chief economist said.
Balisacan, who earned his Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of the Philippines Los Baños in 1982 through the DAAD-SEARCA Scholarship Programme, was recognized for advancing agricultural innovation, strengthening institutions, empowering rural communities, and improving livelihoods across Southeast Asia through his teaching, research, and public service.
At the SEARCA Scholars and Alumni Conference on October 20 (Tuesday) in Los Baños, Laguna, Balisacan urged fellow scholars and alumni to apply their knowledge to the region’s evolving challenges, stressing that agricultural transformation must be complemented by investments in rural education, health, connectivity, and social protection.
“Food security and agricultural transformation remain central to Southeast Asia’s development. We must help farming offer better livelihoods while widening the paths available to rural families, including those whose aspirations lead them beyond the farm.”
Reflecting on SEARCA’s six decades of investing in human capital, Balisacan encouraged scholars and development practitioners to pay it forward.
“The agricultural futures we seek will take shape through the research we undertake, the institutions we strengthen, and the opportunities we help others create,” Balisacan said.
Marking 10 years since the launch of the OSSA Awards, SEARCA also honored fellow 2026 awardees Dr. Weerapon Thongma and Dr. Asikin Yoeu (Public Service and Community Development), and Dr. Prasong Tanpichai (Teaching) for exceptional contributions to the region.
9Reference: Perry
