The SEAMEO Service Award is bestowed on outstanding staff of the SEAMEO regional centers, network, and secretariat who exemplify excellence and commitment for the success of their respective organizations.
The award was presented on 25 July 2017 at the 49th SEAMEO Council Conference (SEAMEC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, which was a gathering of ministers of education of the 11 SEAMEO member countries in Southeast Asia.
The SEAMEO Service Award adds to Saguiguit's numerous distinctions received from national and international or foreign institutions for his exemplary development work in the agricultural sector.
These include the Chevalier de l'Ordre du Mérite Agricole (Knight of the Order of Agricultural Merit) given by the French government, the Honorary Doctorate Degree in Applied Economics from Thailand's Maejo University (MJU), Outstanding Alumnus in Regional Institutional Development and Distinguished Alumnus for Agriculture and Rural Development by the University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Association (UPLBAA), and Vietnam's Medal for the Cause of Education.
In 2015, Dr. Saguiguit also received on behalf of SEARCA an award for significant contributions to Myanmar's human resource development in agriculture.
Under Saguiguit's leadership, SEARCA reached unprecedented heights in collaborations on research and capacity building projects with national and international development agencies and donor organizations that flourished during his term. (Leah Lyn D. Domingo)
