August 2023

Meet the new Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

On August 9, 2023, NIA Deputy Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr. took his Oath of Office before Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin at the Malacañang Palace, San Miguel, Manila.

Let us know him with these 10 amazing facts.

1. Deputy Administrator Seares was born and raised by a family of medical professionals and public servants.

2. A graduate of Bachelor of Science major in Botany at the University of Sto. Tomas (UST), he further pursued Doctor of Medicine at Our Lady of Fatima until his junior year.

3. At the age of 40, he became the Administrator of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), the youngest ever appointed to the position. Like father like son, his late father, Mr. Robert Lizardo Seares, M.D., also served as NTA Administrator.

4. He implemented DA’s twin objectives of Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita by increasing the productivity and income of farmers by 5% and 11% per annum, respectively. He spearheaded the construction of the first solar powered irrigation system in Cordillera (Barangay Kimmalaba) and the development of the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program, a five-year industry development roadmap in line with the OneDA Strategy to accelerate the modernization and industrialization of the tobacco industry.

5. A young achiever, he first ran and won as Municipal Mayor of Dolores, Abra at the young age of 30. He served as local chief executive, not just once but for three consecutive terms (from 2010 to 2019).

6. A true public servant, he made Dolores a consistent awardee of DILG Seal of Good Governance Awardee (2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019).

7. While he always speaks about increasing farmers' productivity and income, securing employees' welfare is his top priority. He led the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the Social Security System and NTA to provide benefits to Contract of Service (COS) and Job Order (JO) workers.

8. He was a recipient of the Most Outstanding Mayor Award for 2013 by the Superbrand Marketing International, Inc. (SMI), the only international award-giving body in Marketing/Branding in the Philippines.

9. With passion in serving the public, he received numerous awards and recognitions for his exemplary performance in local governance, such as the inclusion of his town to the Top 5 Nationwide in terms of Excellence in Public Service based on the Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) Report Card 2017 of the Civil Service (ARTA Awardee).

10. He is married to Jennifer Tiu Seares from Davao City, a Member of the Board of Directors of Movie and Television Regulatory Commission Board (MTRCB). They are blessed with four handsome boys all named "Victor," after the triumphs and blessings in the life of Robert Victor.

With his outstanding credentials and performance in the Executive Department, NIA looks forward to more years of irrigation service excellence.

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Former NTA Administrator Seares (middle) takes his oath as NIA Deputy Administrator before Executive Secretary Bersamin (2^nd from left). NIA Acting Administrator Eddie Guillen (outermost left), Piddig Municipal Mayor Georgina Guillen (outermost right), and Deputy Administrator Seares’ wife, Jennifer Tiu Seares (2^nd from right), witnessed the ceremony.