LOS BAÑOS, Laguna—The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, which is hosted by the Philippine government, has named Dr. Cielito F. Habito as the new editor of SEARCA's Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development.
Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit Jr., SEARCA director, said the AJAD is an international refereed journal dedicated to the publication of information and analysis on topics within the broad scope of agriculture and development.
The AJAD was launched in 2004 and is published twice a year as the official publication of SEARCA.
The Journal specializes in the publication of articles drawn from empirical, policy-oriented, and institutional development studies, as well as articles on perspectives in agriculture and development, political economy of rural development, and trade issues.
A professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University and Senior Fellow at SEARCA, Habito agreed to join the AJAD Editorial Board in June 2017.
He is the second editor of the journal, succeeding Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, who is currently the chairman of the Philippine Competition Commission.
"As such, SEARCA has the distinction of having two former Philippine Cabinet members, both having served as Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority, at the helm of this prestigious journal," Saguiguit said.
Habito served as director of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development for 11 years.
He has also served on the boards of various private companies and foundations, and is Chairman of Brain Trust Inc. and Operation Compassion Philippines. He also writes the award-winning weekly column "No Free Lunch" in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Saguiguit said the center is delighted that Habito agreed to be Editor of AJAD and that "we look forward to seeing AJAD continue to grow with his expertise and leadership."
SEARCA is now in its 50th year, which strengthens institutional capacities toward inclusive and sustainable agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia through its core programs on graduate education and institutional development, research and development, and knowledge management.
Habito holds a PhD and Master of Arts in Economics from Harvard University, Master of Economics from the University of New England in Australia, and Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, summa cum laude, from the University of the Philippines.