Ricardo Visaya

Ricardo Ramoran Visaya (born December 8, 1960) is a retired Philippine Army general serving as the administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) since 2017. He was the 47th Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from July to December 2016. He had also previously served as the commanding general of the AFP Southern Luzon Command, assistant division commander of the 6th Infantry Division, and commander of the 4th Infantry Division. He is from the class of 1983 (Matikas) of the Philippine Military Academy.

On March 7, 2017, Visaya was appointed as National Irrigation Administration chief after Peter T. Laviña resign from his post a week prior.

Early life and education
Ricardo Visaya was born in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte. It's also where he finished elementary and secondary education. He entered Philippine Military Academy in 1979 and graduated in 1983.

Military career


After graduating in 1983, he led various units in the Philippine Army and the AFP, such as the 901st Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry Division, the 104th Infantry Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division and the 69th Infantry Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division.

He also led the 4th Infantry Division the 6th Infantry Division, and the AFP Southern Luzon Command, before being appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 1, 2016. He retired from military service on December 7, 2016.

Training
He attended various courses locally and abroad, such as the Scout Ranger Regular Course, the Intelligence Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advance Course, the Tradecraft for Trainor's Course, the Electronic Warfare Officer Course, the Contract Management Course, the Executive Course on Security Studies in Hawaii, USA; the Command General Staff Course at the Training and Doctrine Command, Philippine Army; the Pacific Army Management Seminar in Tokyo, Japan ; the Professional Managers Program at the Ateneo de Manila University; and the Financial Statement Analysis program at the University of Asia and the Pacific. He earned his master's degree in Project Management at the Australian Defence College in Canberra, Australia.

Awards
Visaya's awards include:
 * PHL Legion of Honor - Legionnaire BAR.png Philippine Legion of Honor
 * PHL People Power I Unit Citation.png People Power I Unit Citation
 * PHL People Power II Unit Citation.png People Power II Unit Citation
 * Philippines Presidential Unit Citation.png Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation
 * PHL Gawad Sa Kaunlaran.gif Three (3) Gawad sa Kaunlaran
 * PHL Bronze Cross.gif Eleven (11) Bronze Cross Medals
 * PHL Military Merit Medal.gif Forty Nine (49) Military Merit Medal (Philippines)
 * PHL Military Commendation.gif Fourteen (14) Military Commendation Medals
 * PHL Sagisag Ulirang Kawal.gif Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal
 * PHL Silver Wing Medal ribbon bar.png Two (2) Silver Wing Medals
 * 20 Plaques of Recognitions
 * PMA Cavalier Award (as outstanding alumnus of the Philippine Military Academy)
 * PHL Bronze Cross.gif Bronze Cross Medal
 * PHL Distinguished Service Star BAR.svg Distinguished Service Star
 * PHL Gawad Sa Kaunlaran.gif Gawad sa Kaunlaran
 * PHL Sagisag Ulirang Kawal.gif Sagisag ng Ulirang Kawal
 * Combat Commander's (Kagitingan) Badge.png Combat Commander's Badge (Philippines)
 * Scout Ranger Qualification Badge.jpg Scout Ranger Qualification Badge
 * Philippine Army Command and General Staff Course Badge.png Philippine Army Command and General Staff Course Badge