Dr Ayson will serve a two-year term. He replaced Dr. Joebert Toledo, who served as AQD chief since 2006.
Dr Ayson was selected based on the results of a search process facilitated by the Department of Agriculture. He was finally endorsed by President Benigno S. Aquino III, and his nomination was affirmed by the SEAFDEC Council.
His areas of expertise and skills include research and training in aquaculture particularly in marine fish broodstock development and management, marine fish nursery operations and management, and marine fish hatchery operations.
He has been with the AQD since 1986, starting as a senior research assistant. In between his stints at the SEADEC, he also served as a chief technical advisor on aquaculture at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO) in Rome, Italy, from 2007 to 2010; a visiting professor at the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan (20052006); and a research fellow at Kitasato University, Japan (19971999).
Dr Ayson completed his post-doctoral fellowship at Kitasato University in 2000; acquired his PhD in Zoology major in fish physiology and endocrinology from the Ocean Research Institute of the University of Tokyo in 1994; and obtained his MSc and BSc in Marine Biology from the University of the Philippines in Diliman (1987) and University of San Carlos (1981), respectively.
During his installation ceremony, Dr. Ayson promised a transparent, just and fair management for all AQD employees. In turn, he expects innovation, hard work and dedication from the AQD officials and staff.
With the new leadership, the AQD community is looking forward to better serve the needs of aquaculture stakeholders in ASEAN-SEAFDEC member-countries. (SEAFDEC-AQD)
Agriculture Secretary Swears in New SEAFDEC-AQD Chief
PHILIPPINES - Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has recently sworn in Dr Felix Ayson, as the new chief of the Aquaculture Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC-AQD), in Tigbauan, Iloilo.
by Lucy Towers
